After winter it is very likely to discover a large number of fire bugs in the garden, which can become a nuisance. Although these insects do not cause any damage to garden plants, they often find their way into the house in the summer, which becomes unpleasant. Because of their harmless nature, fire bugs are considered nuisances rather than pests, but are there ways to get rid of them? This could prompt home and garden owners to deal with the insect species in a humane manner. Below you will find some useful information that may help you better understand this matter.
What to do about fire bugs in the garden and why do they appear?
Because of their unique coloring, the insects, also known as fire beetles, are interesting for children, but in large numbers they can often become annoying. Additionally, finding clusters of fire bugs in the yard or in your own home can be particularly unnerving. Usually the insect digs a crack in the ground and then lays hundredsEggs in the garden area. These hatch into pink-colored young animals, which often become prey for birds and lizards. The fire bug is also a polyphagous insect that feeds mainly on the seeds of the linden tree. It pierces this with its hollow rostrum and empties the contents by sucking it out. Otherwise, fire beetles are also omnivores and can also use other dead insects as food.
What do fire bugs do in the garden and are they dangerous to people or animals? The insects can produce unpleasant odors with their secretions and also tend to gather in thousandsTree roots in the gardento gather. This can be a frightening sight if you don't know what you're dealing with. Fortunately, they are not poisonous pests and do not eat vegetation, although they can be a nuisance indoors. Since there is also an organized balance between them and the plants, the use of insecticides as a repellent is prohibited. However, there are other ways to keep insects away from your garden beds or living spaces.
How can you identify fire bugs in the garden?
As already described, this species of insect has a unique appearance and is easily identified thanks to the red shell with black dots. The fire bugs in the garden or in nature also usually have some triangular and crescent symbols on their bodies. These make them look even more distinctive, with the insects also having a black trapezoid on a red background around their necks. As a rule, they reach a size of 1.2 to 2 cm and can be with or without wings. However, winged fire bugs are also unable to fly, so you don't have to worry about them buzzing around your house.
Before you get rid of fire bugs in the garden, you should also know where they are. The insects often congregate in corners of buildings and under plant leaves, finding ways to enter indoor spaces. Additionally, fire beetles have a wide host range and are often found on the trunk of trees or on the ground near them. As mentioned above, lime trees are common hosts, with hibiscus and horse chestnuts also being included. They sometimes excrete an extremely smelly substance, especially when threatened. A fire bug's secretion can also stain fabrics such as clothing, curtains, and upholstery. However, also keep in mind that fire beetles only sneak inside buildings when it is hot or cold.
How do I get rid of fire bugs in the garden?
First and foremost, it is important to tolerate the presence of fire bugs in the garden unless they are actually causing problems. Another gentle method is to rinse the insects away with water when watering without killing them. You can also reduce the number of nuisances entering your home by sealing all suspicious openings. These could include gaps between window frames and walls, or openings where gas, electrical, and plumbing lines enter your home.
Of course, there are countless other cracks and gaps, but they are difficult to seal with caulk. However, you can protect the openings under doors with numerous means, such as draft excluders. For those that do manage to get into your home, you can vacuum them up and dispose of them alive somewhere outside of your garden area.
In the spring, the beetles emerge after overwintering the cold months. Therefore, you can check tree trunks, stone walls or the walls of your house. The insects gather there to stay warm or to mate. However, if you want to eliminate many fire bugs in the garden, you should not crush them, otherwise they would release the aforementioned foul smell. The easiest and safest ways to get rid of it are the natural ways. Here are some more ways to do this.
Take measures against fire bugs in the garden or living area
- You can try beneficial insects orAttract birds to your garden. Fire beetles are also a source of food for some animal species such as hedgehogs and shrews. However, they often have a defensive effect due to their coloring and secretion.
- There are certain plants that deter insects from staying in your space. One of the best ways to keep them away is to plant garlic. Grow some garlic cloves in pots in the garden area. The natural substances in garlic keep insects away. Some other plants that help repel insects include tea tree, lavender, lemon balm, basil and rosemary. This also helps add some beautiful plants to the landscape.
- Try to remove seed-bearing boxwoods from your garden, or at least not plant new ones, so that they do not become a food source for fire bugs.
- This type of insect also prefers wet environments, and you should remove standing water as quickly as possible to keep them away.
- Since fire bugs live under tree bark and leaves, you can try using less mulch and removing leaves regularly.
- Also make sure your lawns are mowed to minimize any hiding places for the insects.
