Q. We have bugs coming into our home that are not ladybugs, but are larger and brown with what looks like a triangular shield on their backs. What are they and how do I get rid of them?
-- M.C., Woodbridge
A. From your description, it sounds like you have stink bugs.
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest that was first officially spotted in the United States in Allentown, Pa., in 1996. It was first detected in New Jersey in 1999 in Milford, according to George Hamilton, an entomologist and pest specialist with the New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station. Since that time, the bug has been spotted across the state.
Hamilton and other researchers at Rutgers are tracking the spread of this pest and studying its impact on local crops. Locally, the bugs have been observed feeding on a variety of ornamental plants and trees including crab apple, Norway maple, pyracantha, American holly, butterfly bush, peach, Asian pear, string bean, asparagus and raspberry.
Brown marmorated stink bugs are mottled brown and about ½-inch long with shield-shaped bodies. Their antennae have alternating dark and light bands across the last two segments. They have patches of coppery or bluish metallic-colored markings on the head and other areas.
This bug is more likely than other kinds of stink bugs to invade homes in the fall, but there are exceptions. While they are a nuisance, they won't pose a structural or health hazard. As their name implies, stink bugs release a pungent odor when they are disturbed.
You can use a shop vac to capture bugs in your home and throw them in soapy water to kill them.
Peter Shearer, a specialist in fruit crops entomology at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, says the best way to keep brown marmorated stink bugs out of houses is to plug up any holes that provide them access. Window air conditioning units are likely places of entry. You also can treat the outside of your house with insecticides that are labeled for this use, Shearer says.
Hamilton, Shearer and other researchers are concerned about the continued spread of this insect throughout the state. The pest is becoming more of a problem for farmers growing soybeans and fruits.
If you believe you have the brown marmorated stink bug invading your home or landscape, please report these findings to your local county cooperative extension. Visit http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/ for more information.
Q. On a visit to Longwood Gardens this summer, I saw a unique maple tree that had beautiful reddish bark that appeared to be peeling. I wrote down the name but can't find the paper I wrote it on. Do you know what the plant is? It was so unique, I would love to plant one in my landscape. Would it survive in northern New Jersey?
-- P.H., Maplewood
The tree you are describing sounds like a paperbark maple (Acer griseum). These trees have fascinating reddish-brown exfoliating bark that really makes them stand out.
They would be more common in landscapes, but they are somewhat difficult to establish. Still, this is a great small to medium, slow-growing tree that reaches a height and spread of about 20 to 30 feet when mature.
A paperbark maple can tolerate a range of soil pH but requires adequate drainage to thrive. The tree will easily survive in northern New Jersey landscapes if you can succeed in getting it established. Once established, the plant can tolerate temperature ranges from zones four to eight on the Heat Zone Map (most of New Jersey falls within zones five and six).
The dark bluish-green leaves turn to a spectacular deep red in the fall. This is an excellent tree. Visit the Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick to see a specimen of a paperbark maple.
Q. My friend puts coffee grinds in her houseplants but often has bug problems. Is this a good idea?
-- Jack M., Highland Park
I have found that it is best to compost coffee grounds and other organic waste before using them in houseplants. The grounds will provide nutrients to plants but nutrients will be more readily available -- and fewer insects will be attracted -- after the grounds have been composted.
Some fresh organic materials, when they are not composted, can take nitrogen away from plants. When nitrogen levels drop, leaves can turn yellowish. The bacteria in soil and potting mixes will use up nitrogen around plant roots to break down organic matter and actually rob the plants of nitrogen. This is more obvious in plants that are higher nitrogen feeders.
Bill Hlubik is a professor and agricultural and resource management agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension-The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University. He is also a host of the "If Plants Could Talk" television series on NJN Public Television.
Send your garden inquiries to Plant Talk, The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, N.J. 07102-1200.