Eeeech. Gross. What is this black and red mass that visits us every spring? Bugs that even creeped out our termite inspector?
They are the jadera bug, (Jadera haematoloma) or the scentless plant bug or the golden raintree bug. They are harmless bugs that feed on the fallen seeds of the Golden-Rain tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata).
I raked the leaves in the backyard the other day and found an entire country of these things. I think they were holding elections when I disturbed them. I was wondering what they were.
ReplyDeleteThe house behind the alley from me has one of those trees that overhangs the alley and a bit of my backyard. Those bugs engulf that section of my fence every year ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the links, I'm trying to get acquainted with Florida gardening/landscaping and find that even familiar plants behave differently here. Funny, the link says Golden Rain tree should be grown further north to discourage seed production. We had plenty of seeds, and seedlings, in Northern Virginia-but none of the bugs. Harmless perhaps, but I think I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteGolden Rain Trees are on the Florida list of invasive plants. While they are beautiful when they bloom, they aren't terribly good for our ecology here.
ReplyDeleteAnother plant to avoid is the Camphor tree. Yup. Besides the fact that every seed seems to germinate month after month creating a gardening nightmare, the fruit is toxic to birds and causes their eggs to be sterile.
The irony is that Camphor trees are a toxic pest tree the state doesn't want you to plant, but won't let you cut down if you have one.