Friday, May 01, 2009
The stink of bugs and the beauty of coralbells
John Arbogast
Landscape consultant John Arbogast answers your questions every Thursday. Send questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to:
Dear John
5102 Greenfield St. SW
Roanoke, Va. 24018
Or send an e-mail. Answers will be given only in this column. Please don't send pictures or samples.
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Q: I think I have shield bugs or stink bugs. In the past three days near Pittsburgh the temperature has been between 80 and 90 degrees during the day and these bugs are in the house upstairs. I have collected and flushed about 75 of them in three days. They can fly well but not for long and are easy to catch. I am very interested in getting rid of them. How about Japanese beetle collectors?
A: Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for help. They might refer you to your state Land Grant University Extension insect specialists for help and recommendations.
In Roanoke, some homes and buildings have been invaded by a “shield bug” called the brown marmorated stink bug. The Virginia Cooperative Extension Pest Management Guide does not suggest any indoor insecticide or lure. I have found dead and alive bugs this spring in upper rooms of my home, too.
Stink bugs discharge a foul odor, even the dead ones that fall from screens or the attic. This strong smell makes vacuuming stink bugs a bad idea.
Q: I am considering planting a perennial called heuchera, but I need more information about this plant. A friend called this perennial coralbells.
A: There are several species of heuchera. They are good perennials, in my opinion. Coralbells is the common name for the Heuchera sanguinea (botanic name) hybrids. These plants are suited for climates with cold winters.
Coralbells can reach up to 2-1/2 feet. Most species of heuchera have delicate sprays of greenish or creamy-white flowers, but some may produce flowers that are bright red or pink. The flowers are held above clumps of usually evergreen leaves that are available in different colors themselves and have darker marbling marks.
Coralbells do not like wet soil during the winter. They can be planted in full sun or light shade. Bloom time is in the spring, but in cool summer areas, they can bloom occasionally during the summer.
Coralbells have shallow roots, so don’t plant them where the soil is usually dry. They’ll need watering during dry times when the temperatures are hot.
