Spined soldier bugs are brown in color and have the appearance of a fingernail. They have originated from North America. These insects have spines on their shoulders and legs that are visible and prominent on their body. The lifespan of these spined soldier bugs starts when they are just eggs. The female spined soldier bugs lay a maximum of 70 eggs and a minimum of 17 at a time. Hence, their life cycle starts even before they come out of their eggs. In the first week or less than that, the eggs get hatched, and instars are produced.
The spined soldier bugs have five stages in their complete lifecycle, and the instar is one of these immature stages. When they are in this stage, they do not feed on anything and are red in color. The color of the bugs gradually changes as they keep growing and get matured with time. The bugs start feeding on other insects in the different stages of their life. In approximately a month, these immature bugs grow into an adult spined soldier bug.
After hatching and developing into complete adults, these bugs spend the winter in litters of leaves and emerge only when spring arrives. A week before the female spined soldier bugs emerge they lay nearly 500 eggs.
The spined soldier bugs are believed to be predators that have a wide range of host and reports prove that they have been attacking economic pests and other species of insects. The list of prey includes the following:
- European corn borer
- Beet armyworm
- Mexican bean beetle
- Diamondback Moth
- Fall armyworm
- Imported cabbageworm
- velvet bean caterpillar
- Cabbage looper
- Flea beetles
- Colorado potato beetle
When these bugs do not have access to these preys, they have juices from plants. However, this process of feeding does not affect the plant in anyway. These spined soldier bugs are in fact very useful and helpful for farms and gardens as they are capable of keeping away harmful insects and pests from the plants in the garden.
Table of Contents
- Best Repellents to Get Rid of Spined Soldier Bugs
- 1. BED-BUG-RID Pest Rid
- 2. The CraveGreens by Pest Reject
- 3. BUG-RID’s ready to use Golden Granules
- 4.Ultrasonic Pest Repellent by Bono
- 5.Pest Reject Ultrasonic Repeller by global deal
- 6.Ultrasonic Pest Repeller by Enligne – Best Spined Soldier Bug Repellents
- 7. Pro Termiticide Insecticide by Talstar
- 8.An updated version of VEPOWER
- How to Identify the Spined Soldier Bug?
- Steps To Be Followed to Get Rid of Spined Soldier Bugs
- Conclusion
Best Repellents to Get Rid of Spined Soldier Bugs



1. BED-BUG-RID Pest Rid
It is an organic and natural pest deterrent. It is often used as bio-pesticide in farms and is thus safe for pets and humans. It not only affects spined soldier bugs but others like snakes, rabbits, lizards, frogs, etc.
- It is non-toxic as it is made naturally
- It is organic thus safe for kids and animals.
- It is also safe for birds.
- Using it is quite easy
- The product is ready to use.
- It not only eliminates spined soldier bugs but other pests in gardens and from homes.
- The smell of the spray is unpleasant.
2. The CraveGreens by Pest Reject
This product is a device that is white in color. It uses revolutionary technology to control pests like spined soldier bugs and other bugs and pests like a rodent. It utilizes fluctuating sound waves to get rid of bugs from the garden and the home.
- It helps in getting rid of spined soldier bugs, mosquitoes, ants, spiders, cockroaches, and many more other pests.
- The product is environment-friendly
- It is non-toxic thus safe for children and pets.
- It requires a standard power source and plug-in.
- It does not consume much power.
- Installation is not that easy, and one needs to keep in mind several points while installing this device.
- This device uses ultrasonic waves which cannot cross rigid surfaces like walls hence every room requires one unit.
- It works only in indoor areas.
3. BUG-RID’s ready to use Golden Granules
This is a naturally extracted pest deterrent. The ingredients present in this pest control are organic and therefore is safe for kids, birds, and pets. It is non-toxic pest control.
- Safe for children, pets and other animals like birds.
- Completely natural thus is non-toxic under all circumstances.
- It is effective not only on spined soldier bugs but also various other bugs.
- The product is ready to use.
- Instructions for use are easy to follow.
- The detailed formula is mentioned, and it is safe for pets.
- No negative features have been reported for this product.
4.Ultrasonic Pest Repellent by Bono
This is an electronic repellent device that uses ultrasonic waves to get rid of bugs and pests without causing any harmful impact on the environment and affecting pets and animals. It does not involve any poison or chemicals hence are non-toxic. It is much better and safer than other chemical solutions which are neither that effective nor a permanent solution to bugs and pests.
- This is a permanent solution to pests like spined soldier bugs.
- It does not create any unnecessary sound.
- It is very reasonably priced.
- It is free of animal cruelty.
- It works inside closed rooms only.
5.Pest Reject Ultrasonic Repeller by global deal
The product is environmentally friendly and is safe for children, pets, other animals and birds. It is non-toxic in nature.
- Non-toxic
- Eco-friendly
- Easy to use
- It is often harmful to cats and hamsters and other similar types of animals.
6.Ultrasonic Pest Repeller by Enligne – Best Spined Soldier Bug Repellents
The product of good quality and is highly reliable in getting rid of bugs and pests like spined soldier bugs. It comes with a lifetime guarantee. It is also eco-friendly. The bugs and pests get confused by the ultrasonic waves and tend to leave the place.
- Energy efficient
- Has sensor light for night time usage
- Safe for use
- Good appearance
- Affordable
- Easy usages
- No such negative issues with the product
7. Pro Termiticide Insecticide by Talstar
Talstar has delivered this product in the market that has 7.9 percent Bifenthrin with FMC. This is top-rated and most used product to kill spined soldier bugs and other bugs in present days. It is available in different quality in sealed bottles.
- It is affordable for all
- Helps in getting rid of a wide range of pests.
- It does not contain any unbearable odor.
- It does not have any such negative features.
8.An updated version of VEPOWER
It is a good quality product that is used to catch and kill spined soldier bugs. It uses ultrasonic waves to get rid of the pests and insects.
- Covers a wide range of space
- Does not require any maintenance
- Eco-friendly in nature
- Safe for pets and other animals
- Has no negative properties
How to Identify the Spined Soldier Bug?
The spined soldier bugs have thick beaks which are double the size of their antennae; on the other hand, the bugs which feed on plants have very thin antennae. The bugs that have grown into adults have black and orange alternate pattern like marking all along the edge of the abdomens. The shoulder spines point out straight from the body of the spined soldier bug. The body is round in structure. The larvae have beaks similar like the adult bugs but do not have wings.
They have alternative brown, orange and black stripes. They have quite natural feeding habits. The beaks are utilized when the spined soldier bugs feed. They take out their beaks while eating from under their bodies. They jab their prey by sneaking up to them and then use the tips which are like harpoons to have their prey. The bugs feed by injecting digestive enzymes on their prey through the beak which makes the prey immobile. The bugs then suck up the digested prey.
At times, it is seen that these bugs feed on preys that are of the same size as the insect itself. This is possible due to the digestive property of the bugs. Thus, this strategy present in the bugs is said to be highly useful and effective.
Different Species of Spined Soldier Bug
The spined soldier bugs have different species that are native to North America. The number of species is more than 200 and is generally known as shield bugs. These bugs are beneficial for the garden and the farmers. They belong to the Pentatomidae family.
Life Span of Spined Soldier Bug
The spined soldier bugs develop from eggs and then grow into nymphs and finally into adults. Their life cycles start when they are eggs. The spined soldier bugs have to undergo five immature stages before they turn into adults. As they keep growing they resemble their adults. They have an average lifespan of 7 to 8 months.
Eliminating Spined Soldier Bugs from the Garden
Spined soldier bugs have the scientific name of “podisus maculiventris.” They have a rigid appearance and are defensive in nature. They come with a noxious odor. The gardeners are not worried about the presence of Spined soldier bugs in their gardens or farms; instead, they prefer these bugs as they feed on larvae, eggs and other pests that are harmful to plants in the farms or gardens. Thus, the farmers consider these bugs to be one of the best natural pest controls.
These Spined soldier bugs are highly efficient for gardens and farms, however, can cause real misery to the homes. They usually tend to retreat during the winter season and the colder times of the year and returns only when the warmer season is back.
Steps To Be Followed to Get Rid of Spined Soldier Bugs
Another Effective Way to Kill the Spined Soldier Bugs
In case the spined soldier bugs have already entered an individual’s house one should search every spot in details to find their dwelling place and prevent their invasion by applying pesticide for bugs. It is also recommended to contact a registered and experienced pest control team in case the condition worsens. They will clean the place by getting rid of the spined soldier bugs entirely and eliminate them from their foundation level.
One can also use a vacuum cleaner to dispose of the bugs and place it in a trash bag. One should remember never to crush them as they leave behind an unbearable bad odor when killed by mashing. These spined soldier bugs get attracted towards light hence one must switch off lights that are not in use to stop the invasion of these bugs. This will prevent many of these spined soldier bugs to enter the house.
Conclusion
These spined soldier bugs are considered to be biological control agents as they can feed on larvae, caterpillars, other insect pests and hence kill them. This results in the elimination of many insects that are really harmful to agricultural plants. Thus the spined soldier bugs help in protecting ornamental and horticultural plants from some severe damages.
These spined soldier bugs are beneficial bugs present in gardens, farms, and orchards. They generally feed on other pests and clean the garden or farm from a wide range of harmful pests. Often they also feed on stink bugs and juice of the plants, but that does not affect the plants. The owners of firms are not worried if they notice these bugs in their garden as they protect the plants from harmful pests.