Readers want to be rid of pesky pests

Bugs have been a problem indoors and out, judging by the email I received from readers in recent weeks. Their questions reflect an interest in the natural world and a desire to live without pests.

Q. I need help identifying an insect found in my home. I am hoping you can tell me how to go about finding out what it is and then where to go for help. My wife and I found these small insects that are about the size of a grain of rice. They were between the blanket and bedspread on our bed. Thankfully, they were not on the sheets. I have tried to identify them online but I have not been successful. I do not believe they are bed bugs. They are like roly-polys except they are much smaller, lighter in color and slimmer. B.B., Lynchburg

A. They are probably not bed bugs. To get the specimens identified by a Virginia Tech entomologist, you could take them to the Lynchburg Extension office and have them sent to the university’s insect identification lab. This is a government service available to all.

Q. We have run across a worm we have never seen in 50 years of growing tomatoes. It is light green, about two inches long and has about 20 white quarter inch pods on its back. It loves the tomatoes and also will eat the plant. We took several and kept them in a small plastic bucket and they ate a large amount of the leaves off the stems. I have been watching your column, thinking someone else has been bothered by them, but no luck. We only had six tomato plants due to our age and can no longer have a big garden but we still are getting loads of tomatoes. We got 25 in the last two days, small to medium but delicious. We look forward to your next column, maybe something about a green worm? D.W., Lynchburg

A. The white pods on the back of the worm are the cocoons of beneficial parasitic braconid wasps. They will complete their development and fly off to attack other tomato worms if you leave them alone.

Q. I am a retired educator who now raises poultry. I would like to suggest to you the ONLY way to get rid of stinkbugs is to get a rooster or hen of any breed. They love stinkbugs and will eat them by the dozens! I raise large breeders and little bantams and they eat a multitude of insects and the stinkbugs are just fine with them. For city dwellers, if they have a fenced-in yard they might consider, if zoning allows, “borrowing” a chicken for a few days. Hens would be best, as roosters awake the neighbors about 4 a.m. Call on farmers and people like me. We love to help and educate. A.L.T., Pamplin

A. Thank you for the advice, and your fowl solution for a foul smelling bug.