Golden rain tree bugs are scientifically known as Jadera haematoloma (jadera bugs) or red-shoulder bugs. These pests do not pose any danger or become harmful to anyone who comes in contact with them. They feed on different trees, and when the temperature drops, these bugs move to protected areas such as around doors, windows, under shingles, siding, or in cracks. As they are not harmful to those that come in contact with them, they could be an environmental nuisance and there are several ways you can get rid of them in your environment or property.
These bugs could become a nuisance when they invade your homes or other structure seeking shelter. Their excreta could stain curtains, walls, furniture, and surfaces when many of them move into a home. The jadera or red-shoulder bugs are oval in shape and about 1/2 inch long. Its color is brownish grey with red eyes and markings on the outside edges of the pronotum. It feeds on seeds of the boxelder tree and the fruits of other trees.
With higher spring temperatures, jadera bugs emerge from overwintering sites and begin mating a few weeks later. Their females deposit eggs on leaves, rocks, grass, or tree bark.
These are the ways of getting rid of the golden rain tree bugs. Removing host trees may help eliminate a breeding location but the insect can still fly in from neighboring areas that contain host plants. It is still advised that you should inspect the outside of the structure of any areas that could inhabit over-wintering sites for bugs, it\’s preferably before August. You could take these preventive measures – seal cracks and crevices with sealant, the areas where pipes enter the structure should be sealed with a sealant, damaged window screen should be replaced or repaired, the copper mesh should be stuff wept in holes, damaged weather-stripping around doors and windows should be replaced, the damaged screen should be repaired or a new one should be installed, seeds that can become food for the bugs should be removed or disposed of, hiding places should be eliminated such as rocks, leaves, or debris near the house.
As the bugs aggregate and gather momentum in the fall, handpick or vacuum them, then, dispose of them in the garbage. Pesticides should be applied to areas of habitation such as building foundations, fences, sides of houses, tree leaves, trunks, and other areas where the bugs can inhabit. Active ingredients in the pesticide should be sought such as cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, malathion, neem, or pyrethrin.
If you are disturbed by golden rain tree bugs, the following steps can be taken to remove the pests – if your environment or property is being pestered or plagued by the golden rain tree bugs, here are the steps you can follow to remove and eliminate them in your property or environment. They could cause devastating effects on the environment but it\’s better to know on time so one can eliminate them and quickly stop the nuisance.
Remove the seeds
This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of golden rain tree bugs. Removing the seeds that the insects eat is easily and quickly done to get rid of the bugs. The seeds of the golden rain trees and the chinaberry trees are eaten by the jadera bugs. Removing these seeds regularly from your yard or environment will make the bugs search for food elsewhere.
If you don\’t have a golden rain tree or a chinaberry tree in your yard or environment but you still have a jadera bug problem, then there must be another issue, investigate the area where the insects are residing. These bugs always eat seeds, the most food they eat is the seed, so when you discover their food source, you have to rake it and remove it from your environment.
One of the challenges to this method or type of getting rid of the bugs is that it has to be done diligently and regularly. If it is not done regularly and diligently, you will be inviting more of the bugs to your lawn. You must be consistent in removing the bugs else they return and cause a nuisance.
Change your ground cover
If there is difficulty in removing your golden rain tree or your chinaberry tree, it could be due to the type of ground cover you have. Depending on the type of ground cover you have in your lawn, the seeds may stick to the blades of the grass and could easily fall below, by implication it makes it harder to pull out the seeds.
If you are faced with this challenge, then there could be an alternative of changing your ground cover. The best alternative is using mulch below around your chinaberry and golden rain trees. After this exercise, then the seeds will stay on top of the mulch, and are easier to rake up. Changing your ground cover is a very nice alternative in removing your golden rain tree or chinaberry tree.
Before you make up your mind about changing your ground cover, it\’s always advisable you do little research for your area and climate in order to ensure you choose something that will thrive in your environment. You can also ask an expert for advice.
Remove the trees
Sometimes the devastating effect of the golden rain tree bug is so extreme that removing the seed is not only enough. As the case may be, removing the source of the seeds which is the tree could be the only way to get rid of these bugs. Once the tree is removed, there will be instant migration of the jadera bugs to other locations because they will starve and die in no distant time.
Removing the trees is a very nice idea, that is if the golden rain tree bug has started to chew on the leaves and the stems of the trees. Though this can be rare, total removal of the tree from the location is the best idea. Some people will not like to remove the golden rain or chinaberry tree from their yard because it adds to the beauty of their environment, there is another alternative to adopt as regards that.
Use a Hose
You can actually use a stream of water from a hose or water source to disperse the bugs that are if they are a lot of golden tree bugs in one location. Using a hose is effective but it does not guarantee to drown all the bugs but it is an effective method of breaking large clouds of the bugs quickly.
Some have taken this method higher by using a pressure cleaner to remove the bugs. The pressure cleaner is better off because the stream is usually stronger than a regular garden hose, it is more effective in killing insects.
This method is usually helpful and efficient for removing jadera bugs when they have congregated on the wall or other surfaces. Since the bugs are on a solid surface, the stream of water could remove all of them from the surface. The stream of water will flush out every single bug on the surface.
A temporary fix
This method does not necessarily kill the bugs, but disperses them. As the name implies, it\’s a temporary method to disperse the bugs. If you constantly use your hose and pressure cleaner to remove the bugs, it can be a permanent way to remove the jadera bugs.
Use Soapy water
Getting a mixture of dish soap and water is another method of getting rid of golden rain tree bugs. The mixture will be placed on a spray bottle and then spray the insects with it. The soap is actually poisonous to the bugs. The surface tension on the surface is also reduced, that is if the future insect tries to walk or grab the surface, they won\’t be able to get a grip.
Soapy water has been very effective and efficient in removing these bugs and also prevents future infestation on them. It has also proven that placing dish soap in the dispenser of your pressure cleaner and the pressure will quickly clean your bugs immediately. Try as much as possible to use the lowest setting of your equipment so you won\’t damage your trees and other plants in your environment.
Use Pesticides
Using chemical pesticides is another method of removing these bugs. There are more than enough pesticides in the market. We have prothor, it can be applied to grass and trees. It will eliminate all the jadera bugs in the area and it will continually protect the area for an additional 3 to 6 months against further infestation.
Prothor is environmentally friendly, it has no smell, very safe to use near people and animals. It\’s very easy to apply. In order to use, the prothor should be added to a hose-end sprayer, the sprayer bottle should be filled to a five-gallon heavy-duty, line and your garden hose should be connected. The affected area should be finally sprayed with the mixture.
There are other pesticides that have been proven effective during the years as stated earlier, like the chemical containing pyrethroid is also effective in handling the bugs. The chemical is also known as deltamethrin, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin.
Use a vacuum
Using a household vacuum is another way of getting rid of golden rain tree bugs. It\’s more efficient for areas that have a lot of insects. The horse of your vacuum cleaner can suck up the small pest and disposed of it in outside trash. The vacuum that is the best used is one that uses disposable bags, which means you could easily throw out the bag when you are done. Take the entire vacuum outside and empty it, that is if the vacuum cleaner does not use bags, and dump the canister in the garbage bag.
Use Weatherstripping
The major problem faced by a lot of people as regards the golden rain tree bugs is the insects invading their homes. Though the red-shoulder bugs are not always found in the homes, they always stay outside. The bugs are small and could possibly find their way through any little openings or cracks, beneath doors and windows.
Call a Professional
This is another method of getting rid of the red-shoulder bugs. Calling a professional exterminator could help salvage the situation. Many could see this option as a last choice because they have tried several means but to no avail. Calling an exterminator is the most expensive option for dealing with jadera bugs.
Wait them out
Waiting for the insect out is another way of getting rid of the bugs. Jadera bugs follow patterns and seasons like other insects. They will only be at their greatest number a few weeks out of the year. From spring to fall they are most active, that is when most chinaberry trees and golden rain trees drop their seeds. Waiting out these bugs implies that you have to deal with seeing the bugs for a few weeks out of the year.
Use Your Hands
You could also use your hands to remove the golden rain tree bugs. It\’s another good method, that is for those that are strong and willing enough to do it. Get a plastic shopping bag and go out to where the jadera bugs are. Pick up the insects with your hands carefully, and throw them right in the shopping bag. Once you are done, don\’t hesitate to tie up the shopping bag and throw it out. There is another option of relocating the bugs to another area if you don\’t want to kill them, though this option is not good because the golden rain tree bug will always migrate back to where they are found.
Removing the bugs by hand should be done with a gentle touch and avoid squishing the bugs, which could possibly leave you with red stains in your fingers, very difficult to remove. Very important, wear disposable gloves when removing jadera bugs by hand, which will protect your fingers from stains.
Be Consistent
This method is embedded into all methods you use in removing the golden rain tree bug. Consistency is the watchword, any method you adopt in eliminating the bugs, you must be consistent in doing it otherwise it will be less effective and efficient.
Being a consistent and regular removal method, you will be able to control the population of jadera bugs on your property.
Do not crush
It has been researched that golden rain tree bugs pose no challenge or danger to you or your family. It may be discouraging to find these bugs in your yard or home. When you find them, you may be tempted to smash or crush them, avoid it, because when you do, it will leave a red stain behind that will be difficult to remove.