A Bug or Not A Bug

March 28, 2025

Spring is here and cleaning out the garden is at the top of most gardeners list. As you start to move leaves and mulch to prepare for planting you may start to see bugs. Did you know that there are “true bugs” and ‘other bugs”?

True bugs belong to the order Hemiptera and include a wide range of insects like aphids, cicadas, stink bugs and water striders. Examples of ‘other bugs’ or non-Hemipteran insects are beetles, flies, ants, bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths.

One of the true bugs you may find now as you are cleaning up is the burrowing bug. It is small, around 8-10 mm right now, black in color and shaped like a shield. The adults overwinter under mulch and soil then emerge in the spring to mate and lay eggs.

Some years, their populations can grow rather large. Despite their sometimes-alarming abundance, they generally are not a problem for ornamental plants. They do like to feed on pepper and spinach seedlings and are attracted to a many of the spring weedy flowering plants like henbit, which is abundant this time of year.

As with all insect pests, it is important to investigate and weigh the loss of plants or fruits and vegetables versus the impact on beneficial insects before applying pesticides.

If you have a bug that you need identified call the extension office at 620-842-5445 or email me at jlcarr@ksu.edu.