As temperatures fall, stink bug sightings rise

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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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It seems that everyone but you knows that ladybugs secrete a smelly substance when disturbed. It also tastes bad to birds and other predators. You can see it on them when you hold one (two blobs on the underside).

The same smell is particularly strong where they hibernate. I suspect that it helps them find the other ladybugs and find the successful hibernation spots year after year.

Stinkbugs smell like Harvestmen/Daddy-long-legs. A chemical kind of smell. Ladybugs smell like a cup of earthworms from a bait shop (rotting leaves).

That's nice. I've never smelled them, and if it doesn't affect me, it doesn't matter.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
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Yeah, ladybugs stink.
When you try to pick them up to throw them out, they hunker down.
Because they have such a good grip, you have to squeeze a little to get them off their surface.
The squeezing releases their aroma, which is not pleasant, but also not as bad as stink bugs.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
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They're hard on fruit crops. Kill on sight. Why don't we ever get infested with anything good from China? It's always bullshit that fucks things up. How about lobsters, or hummingbirds or something cool?
I'm sure there are invasive species from North America to Asia as well, but we don't hear about it.

See:
http://www.china.org.cn/environment/features_analyses/2009-06/03/content_17880215.htm

Or maybe that's just Chinese propaganda to make us relax about all the Chinese carp, kudzu and stink bugs.