What kind of bugs does bamboo attract?

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be found in many parts of the world. As a woody grass, bamboo forms dense clumps or groves that provide ideal habitat for many insects and other small animals. The hollow stems, plentiful leaves, and quickly decaying plant matter make bamboo an attractive place for bugs to live and feed. So what kinds of insects are drawn to bamboo? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common bugs found living on or around bamboo.

Snout and Bark Beetles

Several species of snout and bark beetles are known to infest bamboo. These include the bamboo powderpost beetle, bamboo borer, and the Chinese bamboo beetle. The larvae of these beetles bore into bamboo stems and feed on the starch-rich tissue inside, causing damage. Adults may also feed on bamboo leaves. Powderpost beetles are especially destructive, producing a fine powdery frass that gives infested bamboo a dusty appearance. Signs of infestation include small bore holes and hollowed out areas in stems. Controlling beetles usually requires pesticide application.

Here is a table showing some common beetles that infest bamboo:

Common Name	Scientific Name
Bamboo powderpost beetle	Dinoderus minutus
Bamboo borer	Chlorophorus annularis
Chinese bamboo beetle	Cylindrophinus patalis

Cicadas

Cicadas are large, noisy insects that suck sap from bamboo stems. They use their piercing mouthparts to feed on fluid from the xylem tissue. This can cause yellowing, wilting, and dieback in infested bamboo shoots and branches. Cicadas also lay their eggs in slits cut into small branches, weakening the bamboo. Adults are about 2 inches long with transparent wings and bulging eyes. Their loud mating calls can be heard coming from bamboo groves when populations are high. Controlling cicadas involves removing and destroying egg nests.

Planthoppers

Several species of planthoppers are found on bamboo, including the bamboo planthopper and mango planthopper. They pierce stems and foliage to feed on sap. Heavy infestations can stunt plant growth and turn leaves yellow or brown. Planthoppers produce honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts sooty mold. Controlling planthoppers may require using insecticidal soaps or oils.

Aphids

Bamboo aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects that cluster on leaves and stems to feed. Their piercing-sucking mouthparts allow them to extract sap. Aphid infestations cause yellowed, twisted, or curled leaves. Honeydew secretions also promote sooty mold growth. Ladybugs, lacewings, and other natural enemies help control aphid populations. Horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can also be used.

Scales

Armored and soft scales are common pests on bamboo. They attach themselves to stems and leaves to feed on sap. Heavy infestations can stunt plant growth and distort foliage. Scales produce honeydew that leads to sooty mold. Controlling scales requires spraying with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Ants may also need to be managed, as they protect scales from predators.

Borers

In addition to beetle borers, other insects bore into bamboo stems and branches. These include longhorn beetles like the bamboo borer, as well as some moths, wasps, and horntails. Larvae tunnel inside, weakening and potentially killing the plant. Keeping bamboo healthy through proper fertilization and watering helps prevent borer attack. Infested parts should be pruned out.

Termites

Subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites all can damage bamboo. Workers chew through the tough outer fibers to access the softer inner pith. Extensive tunneling can weaken stems and cause dieback or collapse. Preventing termite infestations involves eliminating wood debris around bamboo and using baits or soil treatments if active colonies are found.

Weevils

Some species of weevils feed on bamboo leaves and shoots. For example, the yellow bamboo weevil and the bamboo shoot weevil attack young bamboo. Adults make semi-circular notches in leaves, while larvae bore into tender shoots, stunting their growth. Controlling weevils involves removing heavily damaged foliage and shoots. Natural predators like birds also help keep populations in check.

Grasshoppers

Several grasshoppers are bamboo pests, including the bamboo grasshopper and the bow-winged grasshopper. They feed on bamboo leaves and stems, sometimes causing extensive defoliation during outbreaks. Grasshoppers chew foliage, leaving ragged holes and torn edges. Controlling localized infestations involves removing egg masses or using approved insecticides.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects covered in a white waxy coating. They feed in clusters on bamboo stems, foliage, and roots. Heavy infestations can result in yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and plant death. Mealybugs secrete honeydew that leads to sooty mold. Controlling mealybugs requires spraying with horticultural oils or soap solutions.

Thrips

Several tiny thrips species feed on bamboo leaves and flowers. They rasp plant tissues and suck out the sap. This causes a silvery-white stippling or streaking of foliage as well as leaf curling. Thrips may also vector harmful viruses. Using reflective mulch and predatory mites can help suppress thrips populations on bamboo.

Mites

Spider mites, bamboo mites, and rust mites can all damage bamboo. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and feed on the undersides of leaves. This causes stippling, yellowing, browning, and leaf drop. Webbing may be visible on heavily infested plants. Mites thrive in hot, dry conditions. Hosing plants down and applying insecticidal soap or horticultural oil controls outbreaks.

Whiteflies

Clouds of tiny whiteflies taking flight are a common sight around bamboo. They use their piercing mouthparts to suck sap, causing yellowing or mottling of leaves. Sooty mold also grows on the honeydew they excrete. Knocking down populations involves spraying with insecticidal soap or oils. Yellow sticky traps also help monitor whitefly levels.

Leafhoppers

Various leafhoppers feed on bamboo sap. This causes foliage stippling, curling, yellowing, or browning. Leafhoppers also produce honeydew, leading to sooty mold growth. Controlling leafhoppers involves eliminating weeds around bamboo groves and spraying infected plants with insecticidal soap.

Lace bugs

Lace bugs suck sap from bamboo leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, or browning. Their saliva is toxic to plants. Fine black specks of excrement and shed skins build up on the undersides of infested leaves. Knocking down lace bug numbers requires thorough spraying with insecticidal soap to contact the pests on hidden leaf surfaces.

Bamboo Psyllids

These small insects feed on sap from bamboo leaves and shoots. Heavy infestations cause yellowing, browning, wilting, and stunting. Honeydew secretions promote sooty mold growth. Control involves spraying with insecticidal soap or horticultural oils. Removing severely infested shoots and leaves also helps reduce psyllid populations.

Gall Midges

Tiny gall midges lay their eggs in bamboo shoots, stems, or leaves. The larvae then feed inside, stimulating abnormal plant tissue growth. This results in round galls or tumors on leaves and shoots. Heavy infestations affect plant vigor. Pruning out galled parts is the main control. Destroying removed material prevents midges from continuing their lifecycle.

Bamboo-feeding Lepidoptera

Butterflies and moths in the families Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae, and others feed on bamboo as caterpillars. They chew large, ragged holes in foliage. Outbreaks can completely defoliate stands of bamboo. Pick caterpillars off by hand or apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) pesticides when populations spike.

Insect	Scientific Name	Damage
Bamboo caterpillar	Cirina forda	Leaf feeding
Bamboo looper	Hyposidra infixaria	Leaf feeding
Bamboo borer moth	Myelobia smerintha	Stem boring

Wood-boring Beetles

Longhorn beetles such as the bamboo borer and furniture beetle, as well as metallic wood borers attack cut or damaged bamboo. They bore into the wood, weakening structures and creating entry points for decay fungi. Keeping bamboo properly treated and sealed helps prevent infestations. Remove and destroy severely damaged material.

Subterranean Termites

Termites feed on the starchy pith within bamboo stems and branches. This destroys the vascular tissues, weakening and potentially killing bamboo. above-ground evidence is a mud shelter tube attached to the plant. Use termite baits and soil treatments around the base to control these destructive pests. Eliminate wood debris resting on soil near bamboo.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats breed in damp, decaying plant matter around bamboo bases. Their larvae feed on fungi and plant roots, potentially damaging bamboo root systems. Adults lay eggs in moist soil. Reducing irrigation, allowing the soil surface to dry out, and removing debris minimizes breeding sites. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) treatments target larvae.

Slugs and Snails

Slugs and snails rasp out holes and notches in bamboo leaves, especially tender new growth. They leave behind telltale slime trails. These nocturnal pests thrive in damp areas with mulch or ground cover. Copper tape around planter edges deters slime trails. Traps and iron phosphate bait provide control.

Spider Mites

Spider mites suck sap from bamboo leaves, causing stippling damage. Fine webbing becomes apparent on severely infested plants. Hot, dry conditions promote mite outbreaks. Hose bamboo down and apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control heavy infestations. Release predatory mites to provide ongoing control.

Thrips

These tiny insects rasp bamboo foliage and suck out sap. Leaves develop a silvery-white stippling or streaking. Thrips also spread debilitating viruses. Sticky traps monitor populations. Spray infected plants using insecticidal soap to control localized outbreaks. Predatory mites can also suppress thrips.

Aphids

Aphids cluster on tender bamboo shoots and the undersides of leaves to siphon sap. This stunts growth and causes leaf curling, yellowing, and distortion. Honeydew secretions lead to sooty mold fungal growth. Knock aphids off with a strong spray of water. Apply insecticidal soap or introduce lady beetles if infestations persist.

Scales

Armored and soft scales attach to stems and leaves, where they extract sap. Heavy infestations cause yellowing foliage, stunting, and dieback. Scales secrete sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mold growth. Apply horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to control scales. Ant treatments may also be necessary.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs feed in clusters on bamboo stems, leaves, and roots. Their sap-sucking causes stunted growth and yellowing or wilting foliage. Mealybugs leave behind white, waxy deposits while secreting honeydew. Knock off pests with a strong spray of water and apply insecticidal soap to control heavy infestations.

Lace Bugs

These pests suck sap from leaf undersides, causing yellow or brown spotting. Black specks of excrement build up on the leaves. Damage is typically cosmetic unless populations are high. Apply thorough sprays of insecticidal soap to leaf undersides where lace bugs hide and feed.

Planthoppers

Planthoppers pierce bamboo shoots and foliage to feed on sap. Damaged plants become yellowed and stunted. Honeydew secretions promote sooty mold growth. Knock pests off with a hard spray of water. Insecticidal soaps may also be used to control heavy infestations.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes do not directly damage bamboo, but they frequently breed in standing water around plants. Keep the area around bamboo free of puddles, gutters, old containers, etc. that collect rainwater. Use Bt dunks in permanent water sources nearby. Keep the lawn mowed and brush cleared to reduce resting areas.

Wasps

Paper wasps and hornets sometimes build nests on bamboo plants, but do not cause direct damage. However, they will aggressively defend nests if disturbed, posing a sting hazard. Locate and remove nests at night when wasps are inactive. Insecticide sprays are not recommended and may agitate the colony.

Bamboo-feeding Birds

Sapsuckers and other woodpecker species drill into bamboo stems and branches to feed on sap and insects inside. Heavy damage can potentially girdle and kill bamboo culms. Wrap hardware cloth or sheet metal around the lower portions of valuable plants to deter feeding. Suet feeders provide alternative food sources.

Deer

Hungry deer may browse on tender bamboo shoots and leaves. New plantings with sparse foliage are most at risk. Exclude deer with tall fencing around bamboo groves. Individual plants can be protected with wire mesh cages until established. Repellent sprays containing putrescent egg solids also deter browsing.

Voles

Voles gnaw on bamboo root systems and stems at or below the soil line. This can girdle and kill plants. Pull mulch back to check for small bore holes with smooth edges. Use traps baited with peanut butter to eliminate voles. Wire mesh guards around plant bases also provide protection.

Preventing Bamboo Pest Problems

Proper care and cultivation of bamboo helps prevent and reduce many pest problems:

– Select disease-resistant bamboo species and cultivars appropriate for your climate.

– Space plants to allow air circulation and light penetration within groves.

– Only water bamboo when top few inches of soil become dry. Avoid overhead watering.

– Fertilize bamboo in early spring using a complete organic fertilizer.

– Prune out old, damaged, and infested stems and foliage.

– Remove leaf litter and debris from around bamboo bases.

– Use mulch to suppress weeds that can harbor pests.

– Monitor plants frequently and take quick action at first signs of infestation.

– When possible, use pest-resistant bamboo varieties and biological control methods.

Conclusion

Bamboo is susceptible to attack from a wide array of insects, mites, and other pests. Sap-sucking bugs such as aphids, mealybugs, and scales are common bamboo pests. Chewing insects including beetles, borers, and caterpillars also damage foliage and stems. Diseases and molds may develop from honeydew secretions. Vertebrate pests like deer and voles also feed on bamboo. However, adopting best care practices for bamboo and using selective, eco-friendly control options keeps most pest problems in check. With proper management, bamboo’s natural resilience allows it to thrive despite the bugs it attracts.