What do marble bugs look like and how to deal with them?

The marble bug is a fairly new type of pest in the agricultural complex. This Hemiptera affects about 100 plant species. In addition, it penetrates into residential buildings, but does not do much harm to humans. Residents in many parts of the world have been battling this pest for many years.

Adult representatives of the marble bug are larger than other members of the family. The body length of an insect is usually from 1.2 to 1.7 cm. The color of the true bush bug is presented in the form of a brown, dark red and black mixture of shades. In this case, the lower half of the calf is colored lighter and has emerald marks on the abdomen.

Hemiptera eggs are elliptical in shape and light green or light blue in color. One clutch usually contains 28 eggs. The larvae of the marble bug have 5 nymphal instars, in each of which the individual has its own original characters. The development of the pest can be from 40 to 60 days. Over the course of their lives, true bush bugs produce several clutches.

This arthropod can live in a vegetable garden, in a garden, a field and in other territories with vegetation of interest to it. The marble bug feasts on different types of plants, not excluding trees and bushes. This insect is capable of destroying crops, shrubs, fruits of cultivated plants. This creature does not differ in whimsicality to the place of residence, therefore it is found not only in street conditions, but also inside buildings.

When trees and shrubs are affected by a brown marble bug, the plant begins to die. Namely, there are numerous necrosis, bumps. Fruits and vegetables lose their natural flavor. In case of damage to citrus representatives of the flora, you can notice that unripe fruits fall off prematurely.

If a large number of Hemipterans accumulate in the vineyard, then the berry becomes tasteless. In addition, the wine made from these fruits is of poor quality. In addition to all of the above, marble bugs do not disdain such crops:

• hazelnuts;
• apples;
• figs;
• pear;
• tomatoes;
• cucumbers;
• representatives of legumes.

For people, such an arthropod does not pose a particular danger. In some cases, a person in whose apartment an insect lives may have an allergic reaction to an emitted smell or bite. In people with weak immunity, itching and a rash may appear, so the hemiptera will need to be eliminated from housing as soon as possible.

The natural enemy of the marble bug is the Beauveria bassiama mushroom. To date, scientists are developing new drugs based on this fungus to eliminate the pest.

Also, the natural enemy of the "stinker" is the wasp, which eats it. In addition to the above living creatures, birds such as woodpeckers and wrens like to feast on bedbugs. "Smelly" insects can fall prey to a hungry mantis or lizard.

It is quite difficult to deal with a marble bug on the site. The reasons for this situation are the following:

• a small number of natural enemies;
• reproduction in large numbers;
• a wide range of plants that act as hosts for the pest;
• cold resistance;
• effective wintering;
• the ability to move about several kilometers per day.

If an insect has entered the room, then it is worth limiting the access to penetration and its relatives. In order not to let other hemipterans into the apartment, you will need to examine the building for gaps and crevices. If such are found, it will be necessary to seal up all the cracks near windows, doors, pipelines, chimneys with sealant, polyurethane foam.

To catch a marble bug, you can make a light trap. A table lamp and a wide container of soapy water will help get the insect out of its hiding place. A pest, attracted by a bright light, will fly to the lamp and then fall from it into a trap. This procedure should be repeated several nights in a row.

If you find a marble bug, you should immediately start fighting it. Both preventive measures and chemical preparations, folk remedies will help to get rid of the pest.

When using chemicals in the fight against marble bugs, a positive effect is almost always observed. However, one should not forget about the possible harm to human and animal health. Before you start using a chemical insecticide, you should carefully study the instructions for use and wear protective gloves and a respirator. The most effective means of this category include "Aktara", "Tanrek", "Calypso", as well as "Imidor".

In addition, biologists strongly recommend using the following tools.

• "Karate Zeon". This remedy is characterized by a good effect, since it is based on lambda - cyhalothrin. To destroy marble bugs, you need to dissolve 4 ml of the product in 10 liters of water and spray the pest. To achieve the desired effect, the treatment should be carried out twice. With the help of "Karate Zeon", it is possible to prevent the reproduction of adult bedbugs, as well as larvae at the stage of maturation.
• Clipper functions on the basis of bifenthrin. The composition in the amount of 6 ml is diluted with 10 liters of water. The adults of the marble bug are especially vulnerable to this drug. Processing is carried out once.
• "Diatomite" Is a powdery substance that kills pests by stripping them of their protective lipid layer and drawing out liquid from the body. This agent must be scattered at the points of possible finding of marble bugs or directly on them.

According to experts, it is possible to fight against hemiptera "stinkers" with the help of karbophos, chlorophos. Processing of fruit and cultivated plants should be carried out in early spring. At this time, the insect has rather weak defense reactions of the body.

The experience of gardeners indicates that folk remedies will help to eliminate the pest in the room and on the site.

• Vinegar bath. To prepare a pest control, you will need to take a little water and mix it with a tablespoon of vinegar. The resulting solution must be used for spraying arthropod congestion areas. Thanks to acetic acid, the unpleasant odor emitted by insects is eliminated.
• Nicotinic acid. From 2 dozen cigarettes, you will need to take out the tobacco and soak it in 4 liters of water. The resulting mixture is sprayed with a marble bug.In order to avoid allergic reactions during the procedure, it is recommended to wear gloves.
• A mixture of hot red pepper and water. Alternatively, you can use the Tabasco hot sauce. The action of the burning mixture is aimed at burning the chitinous shell of the arthropod. As in the previous case, it is worth wearing protective gloves when handling insects. If the mixture gets into your eyes, rinse them immediately with clean water.
• Soap solution - this tool is one of the safest of all. Add 0.2 liters of detergent to 1000 ml of water. If a pest is found, it is necessary to quickly shake it off into a soapy solution. The marble bug will die in about half a minute.
• Hair fixation spray has the ability to paralyze arthropods. After the action of such a remedy, the "stinkers" become immovable and can be easily collected.
• Bleach, ammonia solution, alcohol. One of the above means is poured into the container, filling it up to half. After that, hemiptera are shaken off into a container with a liquid, which eventually die in it.
• Garlic. The pungent garlic smell scares the marble bug. Therefore, to eliminate the arthropod, you can start preparing a special agent harmless to humans. The fruits of the garlic are broken up and poured over with warm water. The resulting product is sprayed on garden vegetation and rooms in the house.
• Essential oils, the smell of which scares away the "stinker". In order to eliminate the pest, you can use eucalyptus, lemon, mint, lavender oils. Liquid in the amount of 2 tablespoons should be diluted in 2 glasses of warm water. The prepared product is used in a similar way to the garlic tincture.

In addition, many gardeners prefer to collect marble bugs with tweezers. Thus, the pests will not be able to escape. It is necessary to take preventive measures with the help of special preparations since winter. Reprocessing should be done during the breeding season of the pest. The final spraying is carried out when the arthropod is in the larval stage.