Millions of Australians have been warned of a little-known backyard visitor that inflicts “burning pain” and even temporary blindness to residents who get too close to it. Despite being a seasoned gardener and nursery owner, Tim Pickles was reminded just how painful it is to be squirted by a bronze orange bug — a common insect found in yards across coastal areas in the country.
These native critters live and feed on citrus trees along the east coast and have also been spotted in Tasmania and Perth.
However, it’s their ability to produce an unpleasant chemical when disturbed that gives them the ‘proceed with caution’ reputation, with Tim learning just how “foul and painful” an attack really is.
“I was pruning Mandarin trees recently, and I must have brushed against it, because all of a sudden, I had a stinging neck, and it started to have a really horrible smell,” he told Yahoo News.
“I realised that one of them had squirted me, because that’s what they do. They squirt you with this sort of toxic spray, and it is quite dangerous.”
This liquid is pungent and caustic, leaving its victim with irritated skin and gagging from the smell.
The native critters are always found on citrus trees and project a foul-smelling chemical when disturbed. Source: Getty
“It’s up there with one of the worst fragrances you’ll ever smell,” Tim said.
“It’s worse than a dead kangaroo on the road… It’s that bad.”
He likened the moment to being “bitten”, and his skin reaction was immediate, lasting for hours. If spray gets in the eyes, it can cause temporary blindness.
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What can you do about bronze orange bugs in your yard?
Despite a citrus tree being capable of having dozens of bugs on it at a time, thankfully the critters are only attracted to plants within the citrus family, so they’re isolated to particular trees in Aussie yards and are easy to find for gardeners.
It’s best to always wear protective clothing and gloves when tending to citrus trees, and, if you do spot one of the bugs, you can simply squish it in a bid to get rid of them. The critters are considered minor pests in commercial citrus orchards in eastern Australia.
Gardener Tim Pickles is warning Aussies to be careful of bronze orange bugs that are common in citrus trees. Source: Tim Pickles
Tim chooses to use an insecticide to deal with them, but he warns residents to be extra vigilant when using one, explaining that if you’re not careful, it can harm bees.
“You can put gloves on and protective clothes and glasses, and you can squash them if you want. You can vacuum them. People have said that they use a vacuum cleaner to get them down,” he said.
“I just used an insecticide because I spray at night when the bees have gone to sleep. It’s very important that you wait for your tree to stop flowering.”
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