JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) says it has confirmed the first positive identification of the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria, in Mississippi.
The insects were discovered in the past week in Montgomery and Warren Counties.
The kudzu bug not only feeds on kudzu but can be potentially damaging to soybeans and other legumes.
According to Mississippi State University Extension Service Entomologist, Dr. Angus Catchot, “Research has shown the insect can be controlled with currently registered insecticides if crops become infested.”
In addition to being a pest of legumes, the kudzu bug can become quite a nuisance to homeowners given its tendency to invade homes in large numbers and emit a foul odor.
The kudzu bug is a native of Asia that was first discovered in the United States in northeastern Georgia in 2009.
Since that time, the insect has spread rapidly into the surrounding states of Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia largely due to its ability to travel long distances on equipment and vehicles.
Inspectors with MDAC’s Bureau of Plant Industry have begun surveying the state to determine just how widespread the infestation has become.
Due to the kudzu bug’s biology, it is likely the insect will continue to spread throughout the state.
