By Ray Newbold
Journal Correspondent

Dr. Jim Meeker, entomologist with the USDA Forest Service unit in Pineville, Louisiana, reported to the Louisiana Society of American Foresters (LASAF) Executive Committee that infestations of the southern pine beetle (SPB) are at their lowest level since the SPB records have been kept.

However, an insect never before found in the Western Hemisphere has been found in northeast Georgia. Related to the stink bug, the bean plataspid feeds on kudzu. Although that may sound like a beneficial insect, it also eats legume crops, especially soybeans. In at least five north Georgia counties homeowners have reported large groups of the insects lighting on their homes. The insect is also called lablab bug or globular stink bug. Like its stink bug cousin, when it is threatened it releases a chemical with an offensive odor.

The favored food, kudzu, is plentiful in the South and the insect has no known natural enemies. This is a unique case of an invasive species (insect) feeding on an invasive species (kudzu). Kudzu was introduced to the U.S. in 1876 from Japan and was actually planted in the 1930's for erosion control. The bean plataspid is native to India and China. The current range and potential as a pest has yet to be determined. Although it has apparently not been identified with tree damage, species in the legume family such as black locust, honeylocust, redbud, mimosa, mesquite, and Kentucky coffeetree could be susceptible. The presence of this new and potentially problematic insect will be monitored. Hopefully it will be a temporary and fleeting issue.

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