Wow! What a population... Please try Nolo bait next year. It is a bran mixture (the nymphs would rather eat bran than anything!) which is infected with a protozoa. When they eat the protozoa, they stop eating and die after a short while.

Did you know the nymphs are cannibalistic? When they eat an infected one they get the proto too.

Best of all.. any who survive into adulthood will pass the proto on to the next generations. It has been COMMONLY known to eradicate them for years!!!

The bait must be ordered early in the spring and stored in your fridge. Place bottle caps full, a tablespoon or so, each place you see a nest hatching. Places such as Scotts in Tampa will have it most years but it sells out quick. Because it is a little pricey, try to convince a neighbor to go in with you. That way, they will be treating for them too and you will benefit.

And they are working on a new season of them... ugh

I have my first evidence, ever, that they have arrived in Jacksonville. After the very mild winter and the first one, ever, where I had no hard freeze, I can imagine that they had an easy time moving northward. I have yet to see an either an adult or a nymph, but I have agapanthus (lily of the nile) leaves eaten back to about only six inches and whole agapanthus flower heads are GONE. Not flower remnants on the ground, not a pile of petals strewn around, but the entire bloomin' flower - GONE! Total of six flower heads have gone missing.

I read with horror yesterday that these guys love bromeliads. I had no idea. I thought they loved the long strappy leaves of amaryllis, crinum and agapanthus. Had no idea that they would go for a brom. Haven't had any munching there, yet, but I will be watching. :(

Carol in Jacksonville

I bought the Nolo bait from Arbico, so far so good, I have not seen one of those nasty creatures this season...

Silvia

I ruthlessly stomp on all lubbers I encounter in my yard - & sometimes in other places as well! I also put on plastic coated gloves & squish the nymphs w/ my hands. They will congregate on plant stems up off the ground @ dusk & are more easily eliminated then.

I had my first one ever this year and I can attest to their love of crinums. Arghh! He had munched a big hole in a leaf by the time I saw him.

BTW chickens dont like them. At least mine dont. They wouldnt eat it.

Haven't seen a lot of them here, but I'm overrun with armyworms.