Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 01:14 pm
Are you beginning to notice some bugs close to the bamboo in your garden? Well, you might know the devastating effects of bugs on plants. So, it’s quite understandable for you to wonder if bamboo attracts bugs.
Bamboo does attract bugs. Specifically, the bug that is usually attracted to bamboo is the mealybug. Mealybugs are attracted to bamboo plants mainly because of their sweetness. Although bugs are sap suckers and feed mainly on the juice from plants, bugs suck the sap from the bamboo plant leaving behind a honeydew secretion; this exposes the plant to rot.
Does Lucky Bamboo Attract Bugs?
Lucky bamboo attracts bugs. However, not many bugs feed on lucky bamboo. For example, spider mites are perhaps the only pests of these plants.
These spider mites feed on the leaves of lucky bamboo through their piercing and sucking mouthparts, sucking out nutrients needed by the plant for survival leaving behind a sticky brown substance. Read Our this post to know how to get rid of mites from bamboo plants.
Lucky bamboo is different from regular bamboo in form and structure. But the major reason bugs are not attracted to lucky bamboo, unlike regular bamboo, is the difference in the environments of the two plants.
While spider mites that infest lucky bamboo are prevalent in dry and warm places, most bugs prefer to live in warm and moist places. The bamboo provides shelter for spider mites, especially during laying, preserving, and hatching their eggs.
The nutrients from lucky bamboo — nitrogen, phosphorus, and fiber — help maintain spider mites and their eggs. So, being a plant that contains most of the nutrients they require, they will always be attracted to the plant.
Does Bamboo Attract Mosquitoes?
Bamboo attracts mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are lovers of wet environments. However, the kind of environment bamboo grows in is not exactly perfect for mosquitoes. But the stalks of bamboo serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes. This is because the stalks contain water that settles in from dew and rainfall.
When female mosquitoes are ready to lay eggs, they usually look for moist or wet places. The water collected in the stalks is used for carrying the eggs laid by the female mosquitoes because the eggs are dependent on water for survival.
Then the mosquitoes deposit these eggs in the water found in bamboo stalks until they are hatched. Another reason for the attraction of mosquitoes to bamboo is for feeding.
Apart from the shelter for basically the laid eggs, adult mosquitoes also feed on honeydew secretions that remain from sucking insects.
Furthermore, they depend on the nutrients for survival as both, male and female, mosquitoes feed on this honeydew secretion.
Does Bamboo Attract Cockroaches?
Bamboo does attract cockroaches. Cockroaches are often attracted to fresh plants, and the plants serve as shelter for them.
Cockroaches do not feed on bamboo, although, feeding is paramount for the attraction of insects to plants. Generally, the dry and moist environment of bamboo suits cockroaches, hence, they are attracted for shelter.
Furthermore, apart from bamboo acting as a shelter source for cockroaches, they can also be a source of feeding for them. Nonetheless, cockroaches can only be attracted to a bamboo plant for feeding when the plant is rotten.
Especially when rotting from the activities of insects that often leave behind honeydew secretions as the sweetness from the secretion will attract cockroaches.
Does Bamboo Attract Ants?
Bamboo attracts ants. The activities of aphids and other sap-sucking insects are why ants are easily attracted to bamboo. When aphids feast, they suck out sap from bamboo plants leaving behind a honeydew secretion that attracts ants. Ants love sweet substances, and honeydew is perfect for them.
Bamboo also serves as a very favorable nesting place and nutrition for ants. Ants prefer it because it is a stable, clumped, fast-growing, and an abundant source for nutrition.
Furthermore, internodes of bamboo culms are hollow and are penetrable by wood-boring insects. These insects create holes on the internodes. These holes serve as an ideal nest and hosting site for cavity-inhabiting ants.
Although ants are attracted to bamboo by honeydew, they do not cause much harm to the plant, but their activities expose bamboo to infestations from other insects.
Does Bamboo Attract Flies?
Bamboo plants attract flies, but not all flies are attracted to bamboo. Specifically, bamboos are attracted to whiteflies and fruit flies.
The only time bamboo attracts fruit flies is during the period of rotting and decay. Decay occurs from activities of infested insects. For instance, fruit flies are dependent on decaying organic matter to complete their lifecycle, hence, easily attracted.
Whiteflies are attracted to bamboo basically for their nutrients and they cause harm to bamboo because they are sap-sucking flies. They suck out nutrients from bamboo, leaving a honeydew secretion.
When nutrients from the leaves are lost, they become silvery-colored and appear distorted or turn yellow. This is harmful to the bamboo and sometimes causes death.
Another factor that will attract flies is the presence of nitrogen. Bamboo is a lover of nitrogen. Thus, the availability of nitrogen to bamboo makes the plant appear fresh.
It’s in this vigor that whiteflies cannot resist the plant. When the nutrients are sucked out, decay follows. Then, fruit flies become attracted to the bamboo.
Does Bamboo Attract Snakes?
Bamboo attracts snakes. Snakes love dry places, so they can have proper places to feed. Furthermore, bamboo forms grooves that attract rodents and birds, both of which are prey to snakes and are likely to draw out snakes. Also, bamboo is a perfect hiding place for snakes because they can easily go out to receive sunlight.
Snakes do not feed on bamboo but are drawn to them mainly because they are forest plants and are likely to contain prey that can serve as food for them.
Snakes normally would not want to stay in bamboo mainly because of the cold nature of the environment bamboos provide. Also, the stems of bamboos are too slippery to climb.
Bamboo is not typically suitable for snakes because it is hollow and too loud. This is another reason why snakes do not usually stay on bamboo.
Therefore, as stated earlier, snakes are only attracted to bamboo because of prey that may be available for them to feed on.
How to Get Rid of Bamboo Bugs?
Both natural and chemical methods of getting rid of bamboo bugs are effective. Still, the chemical methods are more effective but often pose a danger to the plants and other beneficial insects, whereas natural methods are preferred. Still, their effects are not permanent and require continuity.
You can employ several means to get rid of bamboo bugs. Some of these means are only temporal and only controlling, while others are permanent and the most preferred methods used in getting rid of bamboo bugs.
In getting rid of bugs, avoid using insecticidal sprays to target useful insects and kill them in the process. Below are some tips on how to get rid of bamboo bugs:
- Wash bamboo plants with water running on high pressure, focusing mainly on the undersides of leaves which serve as hosting sites for bugs.
- It would be best to use insecticidal soaps along with water under high pressure. Insecticidal soap could be a laundry detergent.
- Add one tablespoon of the detergent into a gallon of water and spray over the leaves. Also, avoid applying this frequently. The best frequency of application is once every two weeks.
- Use natural predators such as crypts and ladybugs.
- Use neem oil. It is very effective in getting rid of mealybugs, mites, aphids etc.
- You can also use horticultural oils to eliminate bamboo bugs by adding water and spraying heavily on the leaves until they are wet.
Conclusion
The primary reason why insects are attracted to plants is for feeding and possibly shelter. Different bugs exist, but bamboo mealybugs are predominant.
Furthermore, bugs are attracted to bamboo for the reasons mentioned above. Bugs are sap suckers and rely on nutrients from bamboo for survival. So, while feeding on bamboo they survive and in the process expose the plant to risks.
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