What is a kudzu bug?  The kudzu bug is a small yellowish green
lady-beetle-like insect. However, they are not a beetle, but a
true stink bug with sucking mouths that sip the juice from
plants.  They like to aggregate in clusters and release a very
strong, foul odor that you can smell several feet away.  Kudzu
bugs are also called lablab bugs, bean bugs, globular stink
bugs, and bean plataspids.  Are they a new pest and where did
they come from?  Yes, the kudzu bug is a new pest for us in the
United States. Many new people are being introduced to it every
day. We will all have to learn the best ways to deal with it.
The kudzu bug is native to Asia. Genetic markers indicate this
bug was likely introduced from Japan.  When did they get here
and how widely spread are they now?  It was first reported in
Georgia in 2009 and spread to Alabama in October 2010. Since
then, it has been spreading like wildfire. By the end of June,
it has been confirmed in more than 430 counties across 9
Southern region states. They are