PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- We’ve had some frost in central South Dakota, but not a hard freeze yet which means many of the insects pestering people outdoors are still around.
SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist Dr. Amanda Bachmann says mosquitoes are still active, but people are also encountering Multicolored Asian lady beetles or Minute (my-nute) pirate bugs. In both cases, Bachmann says they’re beneficial insects.
Bachmann says come harvest time when aphids start to become scarce, the Multicolored Asian lady beetles and Minute pirate bugs start looking for alternative food sources, which often results in mistaken test bites of humans.
Bachmann says Multicolored Asian lady beetles and Minute pirate bugs can’t be deterred from biting humans quite the same way mosquitoes can be.
Many people talk about being bitten by tiny no-see-ums, but Bachmann says what they’re most likely encountering is the tiny Minute pirate bugs.
Bachmann says once we get a hard freeze, most of the pesky insect activity will end….for this year.
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