Date: Wed, 29 May 2013 10:45:26 -0400
From: Bill Prentice
Subject: Another bug question
Since there was so much help in identifying the kudzu bug, I have another amateur entomologist question.
We’ve been in Chatham County for 14 years; over that time period, on 4 different occasions, we’ve had an infestation in our yard of a strange little bug. Last year you could literally shovel them up, there were so many. They appear during rainy season, and sometimes get into our house via the daylight basement, where they almost immediately die. They tend to be seen for about a month, then the survivors disappear for another time. One year an exterminator was used, and for way too much money, saturated our wan with permithrin… I’m pretty sure we are just shy of a SuperSite from that episode. Still, the bugs receded, and returned the next year.
Here is a description of them: this bug is a crawling insect, no more than 1/8″ wide and an inch long. They are hard-shelled and crunch beneath your feet, light tan in color, and have a dozen or so legs. If disturbed, they roll into a ball. I’ve heard them called Rolie-polies, but if you google image that term, these bugs look nothing like those pictured. These are much lighter colored, much thinner (almost caterpillar-like, but hard shelled).
Any idea??? I’d like to know the scientific name of these, as well as the casual name. Thanks!