Some green shield bugs will feed on certain plants like tomatoes, peaches, and apples, which can make them a pest.
If you have these bugs in your garden, don’t worry! There are natural ways to control them.
In this article, we will explore some simple and safe methods to keep these bugs away.
Identification
Green shield bugs are small, bright green insects. The adults look like beetles and have sucking mouthparts and a shield-like body [1].
You might see them in your garden. However, it is the southern green shield bug that may cause damage to some crops, not the common green shield bug.
How to Get Rid of Green Shield Bugs Naturally
If you have green shield bugs in your house or some bothering your plants, don’t worry. There are natural ways to keep these bugs away. Let’s learn about some of these methods.
1. Manually Remove Them from Plants
One way to control southern green shield bugs is to pick them off the plants with your hands.
You can wear gloves if you don’t want to touch them. Then, put them in a jar with soapy water to stop them from coming back.
2. Keep the Garden Clean and Tidy
Many bugs, like stink bugs and green shield bugs, like gardens with weeds and debris.
If you keep your garden clean, with no debris lying around and free of weeds, they will not have many places to lay their eggs or hide.
Therefore, rake up leaves and pull out weeds to keep your garden clean.
3. Sacrificial Plants
Plant some extra plants just for the bugs. Green shield bugs will go to these plants instead of your favorite ones.
One plant that works well for this purpose is Calendula. Moreover, sweet corn and amaranth attract stink bugs, so these plants might work as trap crops to attract shield bugs as well.
4. Repellent Plants
Some plants have a smell that green shield bugs may not like. Planting these can help keep the bugs away.
Some good repellent plants are geraniums, garlic, and citronella grass. They work well at keeping stink bugs away, so they might work against shield bugs too.
5. Neem Oil
Neem oil is a plant-based insecticide that has a smell that many bugs don’t like.
Therefore, you can mix 2 tablespoons of neem oil with a gallon of water and spray it on your plants. This will help keep the bugs away.
Spray your plants with this homemade shield bug spray at least two times a week.
6. Insecticidal Soap
This is a special kind of soap that is safe for plants but not for bugs. When you spray it on green shield bugs, it can kill them.
You can make your own insecticidal soap by mixing a little bit of dish soap with water. Spray it on the bugs and watch them drown! The soapy water will clog their breathing holes.
7. Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a clever way to confuse the bugs.
These bugs prefer to eat certain plants over others. So if you avoid planting their favorite crop each year, the bugs will have a harder time finding their favorite food.
This makes it easier to keep your garden healthy and bug-free.
8. Weed Thoroughly
Green shieldbugs will lay their eggs on some weeds. So, if you get rid of the weeds in your garden and yard, the bugs will have fewer places to breed.
Many weeds are also breeding sites for green vegetable bugs. Therefore, make sure to pull out the weeds regularly.
9. Pyrethrin-Based Insecticides
Pyrethrin-based insecticides are effective against sap-sucking insects. Many of these products are effective against green shield bug eggs, nymphs, and adults.
10. Diatomaceous Earth
This is a powder that looks like flour, but it’s not for baking!
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on your plants. When the bugs crawl over it, the powder damages their exoskeletons, and they will dry out and die.
11. Using Essential Oils
Essential oils, like peppermint, lemongrass, or lavender oil, can be used to repel bugs.
Mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it on your plants. The strong smell may keep these bugs away.
12. Predators
Many animals and creatures like to eat green shield bugs. By encouraging these natural predators in your garden, you can reduce the number of bugs.
Some helpful predators include:
- Birds: Many birds love to eat bugs. You can attract them to your garden by putting up bird feeders and birdhouses.
- Spiders: While some people are scared of spiders, they are actually very helpful in keeping bug populations down.
- Ladybugs: Ladybugs are great at eating small bugs and their eggs [2]. You can buy ladybugs from garden stores and release them in your garden.
- Toads: Toads may also eat these insects.
13. Using Traps
You can set up simple traps to catch green shield bugs. One easy way is to use a sticky trap.
Many insects are attracted to the color yellow [3], and when they land on the sticky trap, they get stuck and can’t escape. You can buy these traps at garden stores or make your own using yellow paper and sticky glue.
Takeaway
Green shield bugs can be pesky, but with these natural methods, you can keep them away from your garden and home. Try out these home remedies and see which one works best.
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