View Full Version : What the heck are those red and black bugs?
Beano's Fourth Chin
6/20/2006, 06:52 PM
They're everywhere. they're about half an inch long, maybe longer for a big one. They eat dead birds and fruit and whatever else. They group together in these huge gangs on the side of the shed and stuff. They're really starting to tick me off.
How do I get rid of them?
GottaHavePride
6/20/2006, 06:56 PM
Why do junebugs invade my house every night? I've been swatting about 3 a night for the past couple of days.
Hoosier Dynasty
6/20/2006, 06:58 PM
We had em real bad (and I mean rrreeeaaall bad) about 7 years ago (if I recall correctly) Horrible . . . by the millions!:eek:
GottaHavePride
6/20/2006, 07:24 PM
Oh - and what's the best way to get rid of a wasp building a nest inside a birdfeeder? I'd rather not use the "gasoline + match method everyone's probably going to suggest. I've hit the damn thing square-on with wasp killer and it doesn't seem to faze him. I need some wasp kryptonite, dammit.
StoopTroup
6/20/2006, 07:28 PM
http://www.popgadget.net/images/beekiller.jpg
http://www.popgadget.net/2005/07/beautiful_wasp.php
Sooner24
6/20/2006, 07:30 PM
They are Texas Tech Red Raider dung beetles. :eek:
homerSimpsonsBrain
6/20/2006, 07:33 PM
They're everywhere. they're about half an inch long, maybe longer for a big one. They eat dead birds and fruit and whatever else.
They group together in these huge gangs on the side of the shed and stuff. They're really starting to tick me off.
Do they look like this???
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/text/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/548857.jpeg
How do I get rid of them?
Start talking about conference championships
Beano's Fourth Chin
6/20/2006, 07:37 PM
I think they're boxelder bugs
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/houseplants/ort040e/bebswar2.jpg
OUAndy1807
6/20/2006, 07:42 PM
those give me the creaps.
KsSooner
6/20/2006, 08:41 PM
Beano, you are correct, boxelder bugs. We always called them "hunch bugs" because, well you know, they are always hunching each other.
GottaHavePride
6/20/2006, 08:46 PM
http://www.popgadget.net/images/beekiller.jpg
http://www.popgadget.net/2005/07/beautiful_wasp.php
Wait, technology for women???!?!! Bastage. :mad:
Actually, though, I've been meaning to get one of those anyway, I just haven't yet. I bet wasps would go crazy for Hawaiian Punch, though.
So I just went out there (I assumed wasps would be less active this time of day - I was right except for the cicada killer) and DAMN that was a bigger nest than I thought.
Anyway, the nest is in a birdfeeder like this:
http://www.basketsleeves.com/birdfeeder.jpg
except with glass sides so you can see the seed, and it's mounted on a pole, not hung from string. I took a can of wasp/hornet spray in one hand and the longest-handled rake I could find. Here was my method:
Step 1: sneak up, look through the glass and see how many wasps I'm dealing with.
This part was easy - looked like they were all gone for the moment. Now acting quickly I went to
Step 2: step back to maximum range and whack the pole with the rake to make sure they're all gone.
OK, there was one straggler, but he seemed too stupid to find the way back out of there - he can be dealt with in step 4.
Step 3: use the rake (just in case) to knock the top off the birdfeeder.
OK, the damn top is tied on with rope, but I shifted it to one side enouh for my purposes.
Step 4: unload that can o' spray inside the birdfeeder.
The two :eek: large nests are now thoroughly soaked, as is the wasp I named Dumb Bastard. There should be enouh spray soaking that thing to take care of Dumb Bastard's friends (who I have not met but named Suck It! and Take That, Bitch anyway) when they return. Tomorrow I will remove the nests, hose the birdfeeder off thoroughly (ok, I may need to hose it out several times - that was a lot of wasp killer) and then, once it has dried out, fill it up with seed for the birds like it was intended.
And if wasps return, I'm'a use the Hulk Smash method of just tearing the damn pole out of the ground and flinging it into the alley behind the house.
Beano's Fourth Chin
6/20/2006, 09:53 PM
Wait, technology for women???!?!! Bastage. :mad:
Actually, though, I've been meaning to get one of those anyway, I just haven't yet. I bet wasps would go crazy for Hawaiian Punch, though.
So I just went out there (I assumed wasps would be less active this time of day - I was right except for the cicada killer) and DAMN that was a bigger nest than I thought.
Anyway, the nest is in a birdfeeder like this:
http://www.basketsleeves.com/birdfeeder.jpg
except with glass sides so you can see the seed, and it's mounted on a pole, not hung from string. I took a can of wasp/hornet spray in one hand and the longest-handled rake I could find. Here was my method:
Step 1: sneak up, look through the glass and see how many wasps I'm dealing with.
This part was easy - looked like they were all gone for the moment. Now acting quickly I went to
Step 2: step back to maximum range and whack the pole with the rake to make sure they're all gone.
OK, there was one straggler, but he seemed too stupid to find the way back out of there - he can be dealt with in step 4.
Step 3: use the rake (just in case) to knock the top off the birdfeeder.
OK, the damn top is tied on with rope, but I shifted it to one side enouh for my purposes.
Step 4: unload that can o' spray inside the birdfeeder.
The two :eek: large nests are now thoroughly soaked, as is the wasp I named Dumb Bastard. There should be enouh spray soaking that thing to take care of Dumb Bastard's friends (who I have not met but named Suck It! and Take That, Bitch anyway) when they return. Tomorrow I will remove the nests, hose the birdfeeder off thoroughly (ok, I may need to hose it out several times - that was a lot of wasp killer) and then, once it has dried out, fill it up with seed for the birds like it was intended.
And if wasps return, I'm'a use the Hulk Smash method of just tearing the damn pole out of the ground and flinging it into the alley behind the house.
You know, it's times like these, that I really can't stress this enough:
PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE YOUTUBE CRAZE!
olevetonahill
6/20/2006, 10:00 PM
Wasps
get a cheap hand pump sprayer.
add wasp spray
add water
add Dish soap
= dead wasp nests
I do this every year ;)
GottaHavePride
6/20/2006, 10:11 PM
You know, it's times like these, that I really can't stress this enough:
PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE YOUTUBE CRAZE!
What, you want video of me trying to maintain my "9,596 Days Without Getting Stung!" record in a sissified manner?
OUinFLA
6/20/2006, 10:17 PM
GHP - 1
Gigantic World Eating(but dumb) Wasps - 0
Stay tuned for tomorrow's continuing episode.
usmc-sooner
6/21/2006, 12:19 AM
they're crabs your going to have to see your pharmacist and shave your pubes.
GottaHavePride
6/21/2006, 12:23 AM
they're crabs your going to have to see your pharmacist and shave your pubes.
Oh no, I'm not falling for THAt one again. Wait, I mean, uh...
Beano's Fourth Chin
6/21/2006, 12:23 AM
http://shaveeverywhere.com/
soonerhubs
6/21/2006, 12:26 AM
Boxelder bugs are quite annoying. I totally agree with you there. I thought they were unique to High Desert Climates though. I'm wrong there though I guess.
BlondeSoonerGirl
6/21/2006, 08:27 AM
The south side of my house is covered with them. Thousands of them...
They have a funny smell, too.
Yes - I smelled them...:mack:
slickdawg
6/21/2006, 08:42 AM
Do these bugs die easily and are covering your windshield/grill?
OUinFLA
6/21/2006, 09:08 AM
Do these bugs die easily and are covering your windshield/grill?
You must be refering to the dreaded Love-bug with it's semi-annual infestation.
frankensooner
6/21/2006, 09:18 AM
Last year I was stung a few times by the yellow jackets that built a nest up under my kids swingset/playset thingie. These were very smart bugs as they went for my weakest spots, I have some screws in my leg from a break a couple of years ago, and those dang wasps stung me twice on the dang screws. I only got stung a total of 3 times, so 66% they knew exactly where it would inflict the most pain. (and really, it wasn't that painful, even on the screws) I took out the entire colony with my pressure washer after that.
BeetDigger
6/21/2006, 09:47 AM
I think they're boxelder bugs
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/houseplants/ort040e/bebswar2.jpg
I am not so sure that you have boxelder bugs. I don't see them in Texas at all, but in Colorado they usually came out in droves in the fall. I didn't think that they were much of a spring/early summer bug.
Personally, they were annoying, but not overly offensive. As a kid, I caught them and fed them to my salamander. When put in the aquarium, the bug would totally stop moving. Salamanders only go after things that are moving. I would take a pencil and push the bug around until Sal would eat it. I was impatient wating for nature to take its course.
OU4LIFE
6/21/2006, 09:50 AM
I think what you have are the boxelder or Red Shoulder bugs. They are harmless according to my bug guy. And they loved my Golden Rain tree.....that's mostly where they hung out, I just had him spray the tree....now they are almost completely gone.
mdklatt
6/21/2006, 10:15 AM
We always called them "hunch bugs" because, well you know, they are always hunching each other.
:confused:
Beano's Fourth Chin
6/21/2006, 10:46 AM
Maybe that's just what kids are calling it these days.
slickdawg
6/21/2006, 10:46 AM
You must be refering to the dreaded Love-bug with it's semi-annual infestation.
Jes.
The drought has severely limited them this year. :D
MamaMia
6/21/2006, 11:20 AM
If all else fails, use distilled white vinegar on anything.
GottaHavePride
6/21/2006, 11:50 AM
Last year I was stung a few times by the yellow jackets that built a nest up under my kids swingset/playset thingie. These were very smart bugs as they went for my weakest spots, I have some screws in my leg from a break a couple of years ago, and those dang wasps stung me twice on the dang screws. I only got stung a total of 3 times, so 66% they knew exactly where it would inflict the most pain. (and really, it wasn't that painful, even on the screws) I took out the entire colony with my pressure washer after that.
See, I don't want to take any chances. My mom says red wasps barely feel like getting stuck with a needle, but I think she's slightly allergic to yellow jackets, because she says those things feel like getting shot. I'd rather not find out if I'm allergic to them.
Oh, and this morning: wasp free. It looks like Dumb Bastard wasn't so dumb after all, though - I think he was tending the wasps' spider farm inside the bird feeder.
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=boxelder
http://bugguide.net/images/cache/DRSQJRKQ1RE03QI0TQ50OQX0CQM03QI0JQFK3Q900020H0X0TQ G0TQP03RIQQ020H07QH060TRXQK090H0QQQ0SQ.jpg
We own a rent house that gets invaded every spring and fall with these lil critters. They like to hang out on the siding working on their tans. I was told that the only way to get rid of them for good was to cut down the nearby box elder maple tree. Too bad it's in the neighbors yard.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e228/wringho/IMG_0140.jpg
BeetDigger
6/21/2006, 02:54 PM
I was told that the only way to get rid of them for good was to cut down the nearby box elder maple tree. Too bad it's in the neighbors yard.
Too bad DC isn't around. He could take care of it for you.
LoyalFan
6/21/2006, 07:06 PM
I think they're boxelder bugs
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/houseplants/ort040e/bebswar2.jpg
That does it! The next time I box up an elder I'm gonna make sure the casket is sealed tight! Hate for Aunt Mildred to be et by THEM thangs!
(Shiver...Quiver...Frisson)
Loyal"Digger"O'Fan
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