NYS DEC Needs To Know If You See This Bug In Your Backyard

Hudson Valley residents get to see some of their favorite insect friends during the summer. Butterflies, lightning bugs and dragonflies are some of my favorite insects and remind me of the beauty of these warmer months.

In June 2024, the Hudson Valley was covered with tiny, black caterpillars that were coming down from trees. These bugs also left droppings on residents decks, sidewalks and houses.

While it appears that these insects aren't around as much, we can keep an eye out for other bugs that we should know about.

Farmers Almanac Suggests Not Squishing These Invasive Bugs

A few months ago, the Farmers Almanac emphasized how important it is to not crush stink bugs. Those who have done this before are aware of the odor that gets released from stink bugs and how it can be unpleasant.

The Farmers Almanac suggests residents to remove stink bugs from their home 

There are easy suggestions that can help remove stink bugs from your home. The Farmers Almanac recommended vacuum stink bugs, however, I tried this and the smell remained inside of the vacuum. If you have a spare one, use that.

If you end up vacuuming a stink bug, be sure to empty it immediately or change out the bag. Others recommend setting traps and releasing stink bugs outside.

While we may not have seen a lot of stink bugs during the summer months, there is a bug that we should keep an eye out for.

SEE MORE: Can You Identify This Giant Bug In The Hudson Valley?

NYS DEC Needs To Know If You See This Bug In Your Backyard

The NYS DEC has an important mission to help.

The New York State Department of Conservation is also known as the NYS DEC. Their goal and mission is to not only help but also conserve and protect the natural resources in New York state along with the environment as well. The NYS DEC also sets out to improve the environment and bring safety to the state.

Recently, the NYS DEC made a post on social media for residents to keep an eye out for a bug. During the post, they were asking if residents of New York state had pools and if so, they can help protect the trees in our state against an invasive bug. The Asian longhorned beetle could be in pool filters or bugs that look similar to this invasive pest. 

The NYS DEC recommends that New York state residents who come across bugs that look similar to Asian longhorned beetles, submit a report along with emailing pictures and a location of these insects to them.

Reports can be sent to DEC Forest Health Reporting and pictures can be emailed to the NYS DEC. Those who want to report a sighting of these invasive insects can do so by visiting the Invasive Species Database.

How Can Hudson Valley Residents Keep An Eye Out For Asian Longhorned Beetles?

The NYS DEC suggests that New York state residents should be aware of the Asian longhorned beetle and how there are insects that look similar to it. They shared, 

"Please be aware of native look-alikes such as the white-spotted sawyer, which has a distinctive white spot on its back, below its head. In ALB, this white spot is absent."

The NYS DEC shared that residents don't need to have a pool to help. They can look at trees to see if the Asian longhorned beetles have marked their area. They explained, 

"Watch for signs of ALB in trees including round, dime-sized exit holes and sawdust collecting on trunks or branches."

Additional information about these pests can be found on the NYS DEC's social media platforms and website.

Have you ever seen an Asian Longhorned Beetle? Which bug do you enjoy seeing during the warmer months? Share more with us below.