Everyone knows that people are different, like any animals. Some are phlegmatic, others are melancholic, etc. The same goes for small crawling parasites. Mother Nature decided not to stop at one category of bedbug, but to go much further. That is why a person is familiar with smoothies, water striders, triatomaceous bugs.
In this article, we will try to tell you in as much detail as possible about what an Italian bug is, how you need to behave with it and how to get rid of it.
What an insect looks like
The body is flattened. Above is a dense chitinous plate that looks like a shield. The main purpose is to protect the more vulnerable parts of the body. The head is triangular in shape, also hidden under the shell. The main role in the life of an insect is played by the sense of smell. There are straight antennae on the head. The Italian bug can fly a fairly long distance. There are 2 pairs of wings under the flap. One of them is very well developed. 3 pairs of gripping feet provide great stability. The bug clings to the plant and stays on it in windy weather.
Beautiful bright colors made it possible to come up with different names. In the people, the Italian bug is called a tiger bug, a minke bug. The main body color is red. There are 6 vertical stripes along the entire length of the flap. There are black spots on the underside of the abdomen, which are located in an arbitrary shape.
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In nature, too bright a color suggests that the bug is poisonous. Birds lose interest in insects with a similar combat coloring, and spiders do not even approach. Based on this, the Italian bug feels safe, both at night and during the day. Even more active in the presence of light. Likes to gather in colonies and bask in the sun. In case of danger, falls to the ground and releases an unpleasant odor. The scent glands are located on the chest in the area of 2 and 3 pairs of legs. For other insects, this smell is poisonous, and birds have an inadequate reaction. The Italian bug itself uses its scent glands to attract females and notifies its rivals about its superiority.
During the approach of a person, the bug is in no hurry to rise into the air. Rather, on the contrary, it falls to the ground and freezes.
Interesting information about Graphosoma italicum
The genus of the creature has only two species: the italian bush and the ruled bunch. As a rule, even entomologists do not share them.
By the way, here's a photo of an Italian bug arrived in time:
Outwardly, this is a small arthropod (scientifically, it is also referred to as the scutellum ruled), similar to the insect "soldier bug". True, this representative of the fauna is much more obese, and not as elongated in body as the "Cossack".
They identified striped grofosoma, as a native of the country of spaghetti and pizza, for a color that almost coincides with the form of the Vatican guards. Although this is strange, since in reality, the guardians of law and order and religious norms are supplied with yellow and blue robes with small splashes of scarlet in the area of \ u200b \ u200bthe sleeves.
The color of the small creation is red (in some cases orange) with black longitudinal stripes all over the body. On the breast there are rounded black spots, the number of which reaches about 50. The length varies between 8-11 mm and can change during adulthood.The chitinous scutellum is large enough, oval in shape.
The head is hidden to the eyes under the pronotum. From under the shield at the necessary moments, when you need to move somewhere, the bug releases two pairs of wings. This picture is reminiscent of an airplane with a retractable landing gear. It is the rear wings that allow the bug to stay in the air.
The insect lives in Central Europe and Central Asia. A wonderful thermophilic person lives in Russia (the middle zone of the state), Ukraine. The villagers are capable of finding him, who wandered to the edge of the forest, decided to inspect their own agricultural lands, went out to the meadow to collect flowers.
Some admire the beauty of the ruled bush bug. Yes, it's silly to call him disgusting, but ... How do you personally like him? Be sure to leave a comment.
Reproduction and lifestyle
The Italian bug is a thermophilic creature. With the onset of cold weather, they gather in colonies and choose a place for wintering. This is usually a large layer of leaves. When the air warms up well, the insect crawls out of the shelter in search of food. This happens in May. In the same month, the Italian bug mates. If you have ever come across insects that are linked by the back of the body, this is the mating process.
Females lay eggs directly on the plants, not hiding them too much. You can identify the masonry by its clear location. In 2 rows of 6 pieces. The egg resembles a shallow keg with a lid. Empty masonry can be easily calculated. If you look closely, the caps will be open. The ripening period depends on the ambient temperature. At high temperatures, 6 days are enough. Unfavorable conditions slow down the process somewhat, and the larva can be born within 1 month. Outwardly, it is very similar to an adult, but small in size. The ability to mate appears after another 14-30 days. In the southern regions, 2-3 generations have time to appear in one season. In general, the Italian bug reproduces quickly.
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What are house bugs?
House bugs are brown colored parasites. This color is inherent only in adults. As for the larvae, they are almost yellow in color. Their characteristic difference from other insects is their flat and wide body.
In appearance, these parasites are similar to flattened Prusaks. But that's only until they get their dose of human blood. These blood-sucking microorganisms do not have pronounced wings. Instead, their torso is hidden in a tough chitinous carapace.
It is interesting
Some people think that house bugs can fly. This is completely wrong, since these blood-sucking insects lack wings. And their dense chitin shell will not allow you to do this. Such parasites do not know how to jump, unlike fleas with their long limbs.
Some, who have such "uninvited guests" in their house, claim that bedbugs fell on them from the ceiling. This is due to the fact that very hungry adults, including nymphs, are ready for anything to get close to their prey. In an effort to drink human blood, they climb to the ceiling, bypassing the walls. This process is facilitated by a special sticky liquid secreted by the glands of bedbugs. In addition, it is this mucus that emits a strong odor that cannot be confused with anything.
On a note
Scientists have calculated that our planet is inhabited by more than three dozen different bed bugs. They not only differ in their structure, but are also very similar in appearance. You can only distinguish them by carefully studying them under a microscope glass. You should be aware that representatives of different species never interbreed. They distinguish each other by the odor emitted.
Food preferences
It feeds on plant juices. Moreover, only the umbrella family chooses. The Italian bug is often found on dill, parsley, and carrots. Seeds are of greater interest to him. The plant simply won't be able to reproduce next year. In addition, it lives in the wild, since there you can find a plant from the umbrella family everywhere. It pierces the plant and sucks out the juice. The larvae feed in the same way as the adults. After birth, they begin to actively eat.
The Italian bug is not one of the garden pests. With a small accumulation, the plant suffers slightly. However, there are anomalies when the number goes off scale. Affected crops dry out and most of the harvest is lost.
Habitat
Beetles, popularly called soldiers, are most often found in the street or in the garden. They nest in old rotten wood logs, tree trunks, or board fences. Sometimes such surfaces are literally strewn with colonies of soldiers.
But in these places the insects just rest, but to get nutrients they go fishing, precipitating young shoots in the garden and causing irreparable damage to the harvest in the garden. Gardeners often find soldiers in cabbage, carrot or beet tops, on the leaves of garden trees or currant bushes. In any case, if the owner of the site discovers a colony of soldier beetles nearby, he should immediately think about how to drive them away.
Despite its seemingly harmless appearance, the bug causes serious harm to garden crops. The insect lays eggs directly in the plants (on leaves or stems), while sucking out all the juice from them. They are especially dangerous for elite grape varieties. Due to the fact that they feed on the sap of horticultural crops, they are classified as serious pests. The gardener must understand that it is not so much adult soldier bugs that harm, as their eggs and larvae. And for this reason, they should be timely prevented from appearing in the garden. Often these garden pests cause damage to young shoots of beets, carrots, dill and other garden vegetation. Plants that have not yet grown strong and have not gained vitality simply die from the influence of the soldiers.
What does the soldier bug eat?
In order to effectively combat garden pests, it is necessary to understand what these insects feed on and where do they live?
A red beetle with black spots, popularly known as a soldier bug, is completely unpretentious in food. Few people know what soldier beetles eat, but this information is very important, especially for gardeners, who can suffer significant losses from black and red pests.
So, in order to exist fully, the red-black beetle only needs plant sap. He gets it by piercing leaves or stems with a sharp proboscis. After such an impact, the cultivated vegetation ceases to bear fruit and gradually dies off. If soldier beetles damage vegetable, fruit or berry fruits, then they cease to be suitable for human consumption. If there is no fresh juice nearby, then black-red bugs can even eat carrion. On dead insects, bugs collect in colonies, and sometimes they can even be seen on the corpses of vertebrates. Oviposition is done by this insect directly on leaves, cuttings and stems of plants. This prevents the risk of food shortages for young individuals. Young red larvae will always find something to feast on, thanks to this placement of the egg-laying. Gathering in large colonies, they cause irreparable damage to many horticultural crops:
Is it worth it to destroy
The Italian bug is not a locust. His appetites are not so extensive.An insect cannot kill all dill, parsley, or carrots. Therefore, it makes little sense to destroy it. Basically, prevention of the appearance is carried out.
- The surest way is to plant a black cohosh plant near the beds. It is a perennial herb that blooms very beautifully. The Italian bug is able to smell this plant several kilometers away. He will not approach such a territory. In addition to such benefits in the garden, black cohosh will decorate it. Blooms all summer. On top of that, it is considered a useful medicinal plant.
- In May, when the Italian bug is actively mating, you can walk around the garden and collect it in a jar. Some people prefer to throw them into the water, others just collect and then throw them away from the beds.
- Timely weed control is also a preventive measure. The Italian bug is deprived of the additional food option. Since most of the weeds are umbrella weeds.
In general, the Italian bug is harmless. In nature, there are much worse pests that should be combated. The use of insecticidal preparations is not at all recommended. The plant absorbs poison, which can then harm human health.
Prevention measures
Compliance with several preventive recommendations will help protect housing from the invasion of bedbugs:
- To begin with, you should install mosquito nets on the windows, especially in the spring-summer period, when insect activity is at its highest.
- Spring cleaning regularly. The arachnid will not live in a clean house.
- Carry out pest control once a year, especially in dusty and hard-to-reach places.
- Use lavender and citrus scents as a flavoring agent. This will prevent the parasite from settling.
- It is better to pack old books and belongings and take them to the attic or garage.
- Purchased indoor plants should be inspected for insects.
- Garbage should be taken out in time so that it does not have time to start to rot in the house.
Preventing the appearance is always easier than killing the parasites.
If the Italian bug is very annoying and annoying, you can drive away using folk methods
Onion peel infusion
The Italian bug is highly sensitive to odors. Onion skins will reduce his appetite and drive him out of the territory. Onion peel is filled with water and infused for 5 days. The ratio does not really matter. If you need to process a bed of carrots or dill, you can cook 2-3 liters. The more onion husks, the richer the tincture will turn out. In general, insist 200 g in 10 liters of water. The procedure is best done in the morning or evening. If repeated every day, the Italian bug will run away faster. In general, it is enough to process 3 times every 2-3 days.
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Mustard tincture
Powder is used. 1 bag of mustard is poured into a 10 liter bucket of water. Insist 2-3 days. Plants are treated in the same way as in the first case. Enough once a day for the bug to liberate the conquered territory.
Danger to humans
The Italian bug is one of those insects that nature lovers can hold in their hands, see and admire well. The bug will not bite. It can only release an unpleasant odor, but its concentration is too low for a person to harm. Rather, the danger comes from the person.
You should not destroy all the beetles and insects that are in the garden. The Italian bug is more of an ornamental insect. Children admire it, photographers admire it.
Summing up, it can be noted that the Italian bug is a harmless insect of a beautiful color. It is not entirely humane to destroy it, since there is no harm from it. All living things have to eat something. Plant sap is the best choice in nature. With a large number, you can treat the plant with a decoction of onion husks or collect the settlers in a jar.
