Kleidocerys resedae

Birch catkin bug

Description

Birch catkin bug is a rust-coloured shield bug common on or around birch trees. It do not feed on other tree species. The adult is about 4.5 - 5.5 mm in size with patterned and largely transparent wings. Adults overwinter in the soil and/or in the crevices of the bark. It swarms early in the spring. It has several generations per a year and larvae occur from March to September. They look like an adults, but they don\'t have wings yet. Adults and larvae feed by sucking the juice from the birch catkins, they do not damage the leaves and do not worsen significantly the health of the trees. They can be found in the city parks and forests, where birch trees grow. They can be found also in houses, where they try to find a place for overwintering. They are not dangerous for humans, however, they can be disruptive and smell specifically, not very pleasant… From August to September, they look for a place to spend the winter and often enter the apartments through open windows and doors. A good way to protect your property is to use window nets against insects or adhesive tapes around the windows, which will partially prevent the penetration of bugs into the interior. In case the problem is serious, we recommend treat the birch trees in the vicinity in July by appropriate insecticide.