I just returned from a trip and went to check up on my in ground figs and saw hundreds if not thousands of Kudzu beetles massed around all the green shoots and leaves. I really hope my one pest free fruit doesn't have a new pest. These beetles are a new introduction in the south(I'm in GA). I didn't see any obvious damage but I only got in just before dark so I will have to investigate tomorrow. I will try to post pics tomorrow as well. Lets all hope we don't have a new problem to deal with. Anyone else down south seen these beetles on their figs?

Michael

They were swarming mine a few weeks ago, but seem to have moved on.  No damage done that I can tell.  It's more than I can say for my plum trees - not sure if they're eating them, but something sure is.

Mike,

I have them as well, but not that many. I was trying to figure out what they were a few days ago, and just googled for a image and thats what I have. I was fearing they were juvenile of the brown marmorated stink bug that is causing problems on a lot of fruits. They kind of have that stink bug shape.

I don't know when dormancy breaks for you guys but would a sulfur and dormant oil spray help with them?  I don't know what they are but they don't sound good.

they also stink to high hell.  according to one of UGA's extension services, they've already eradicated an estimated 1/3 of the kudzu in GA.  kudzu had no natural predators.  now kudzu's natural predator has no natural predators.  hopefully kudzu bugs' natural predator doesn't also prey on cotton or livestock ;)

@Chivas, they're not doing any damage to the fig trees per se, so not sure why dormancy oil would be helpful.  they barely even react to pesticide.  supposedly the thing to do is put out traps to capture them prior to breeding (which is and/or has already happened).  their numbers have dwindled drastically around my house the last few days, they seem to be farther north now.

http://www.caes.uga.edu/applications/publications/files/pdf/C%20991_1.PDF

     I've had problems with beetles eating my Manzanillo olive tree leaves for about a week.There are two types of beetles that I have been picking off my trees that  look similar to Cucumber beetles and Bean Leaf beetles.They do not eat the Mission olive leaves in the same area.
Bean leaf beetles

Cucumber beetles

I would think that something that eats Kudzu would be a good thing.

Cucumber beetles eat other things such as Physallis peruviana. They can completely defoliate a 10' diameter, 6' high plant.

I was thinking more that the lime sulfur in the dormant oil sulfur spray might deter them with the smell/taste but if the kudzu stinks and they don't get harmed with pesticides I suppose not.

Yesterday, I noticed some Kudzu bugs on a Hardy Chicago. They appear to like the uppermost leaves of the fig tree. I watched them for awhile and they did not appear to be harming the leaves.I decided to leave them on the tree and check them the next day.

    I checked the tree today and they were still in the same location and I couldn't find any harm to the leaves.I read a little more about them and how they like to eat soybean leaves and other bean leaves. I have some beans growing in my garden so I decided that it was best to pick them off the fig leaves before they reproduced or started eating my beans in my garden about 150 yards away.I haven't found any Kudzu bugs on any other fig trees or in my garden.I hope that they stay away.

   They aren't too hard to catch as they didn't try to fly away.They stink like stink bugs when they are crushed. I took them to my chickens to see if they would eat them and they ate them all. :)  I guess that you might be able to let some chickens loose in a bean field if they wouldn't do more damage than good.

Time to get one of these.
They are on constant bug patrol.

Love Guineas!

They look so tropical and exotic.

Hope to have some one day (post retirement) for pest control in my garden and fruit trees.

They also are used as an intruder alert. They'll sound off if something comes in their territory.