First Kudzu Bug of the Season

Spotted on the fava beans. Thankfully, he was a lone marauder, and is now a 'has been'. Many farmers are starting to see these guys congregating on figs, beans ... and walls. They are a particular danger to the edamame crop. Hope they stay away from my garden.

Here's what Debbie Roos, our agriculture extension agent, has to say about the pests:

"I have been getting lots of queries from folks wanting to know what the weird looking little bugs are on their plants.

I first started hearing about it last fall, so I took photos and made a new web page to introduce our newest invasive exotic pest: the kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria). Now it is spring and the calls and texts and emails and Facebook posts are pouring in because our little friends are back after sleeping snugly in their overwintering sites. Again people are seeing kudzu bugs congregate on figs, magnolia, bronze fennel, and on the sides of houses. Expect to see alot more kudzu bugs this year than last year. I updated my web page so you can read all about the kudzu bugs on Cooperative Extension’s Growing Small Farms website."

The early favas are plumping up and should be ready to pick soon!