Choosing the Right Equipment
After considering various options, I settled on using a high-strength vacuum cleaner based on a friend’s previous success with a Miele model. I initially wanted a bagged vacuum for easy disposal, but most secondhand options were bagless. Handheld vacuums were ruled out due to insufficient suction power.
I explored several purchasing options:
- Gumtree had limited bagged vacuum options within my $50-$100 budget
- Considered checking secondhand stores like Vinnies
- Finally found success on eBay with an industrial vacuum
The winning choice was a Ryobi 30L industrial vacuum, which proved perfect for the task. It offered:
- Wet/dry suction capability with wet filter
- Multiple extensions + long range hose
- Stainless steel container
- Excellent value at $50 on ebay auction
- Lightweight
- Low volume for the amount of suction power it generates
- Four wheels for ease of moving around
The Bug Removal Operation
We chose an overcast day for the operation. Our target was a three-meter lemon tree heavily infested with stink bugs – each branch hosting 2-5 bugs. We came prepared with:
- Safety glasses
- Raincoat
- Gloves
- Extension cord
Despite my initial plan to use a bag, my friend convinced me to use the stainless steel container directly. The vacuum setup included two extensions, allowing us to maintain a safe distance while working.
The Technique
Our approach proved highly effective:
- Approach bugs from underneath at an angle (NOT DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH! KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE! Acid fell perpendicular to the ground)
- Clear out bugs from the outer perimetre of the tree first, and clear out the ones that are more easily accessed first
- Use slow, deliberate movements
- When the vacuum stuck to branches or leaves, temporarily disconnect the extension to avoid excessive shaking
- Target clusters of bugs efficiently – the vacuum could handle 2-5 bugs simultaneously due to the wide opening and the powerful suction. Each cluster would take no more than 2-3 seconds to deal with.
Interestingly, the bugs showed no fear of the vacuum. They remained stationary until captured, and nearby bugs didn’t react to their neighbors being removed. As my friend noted, it felt like we were hunters in “The Three-Body Problem” series, where the lemon tree was our “dark forest.” A portal of suction suddenly appeared beneath them, transforming the space into a void where they were pulled inevitably into the darkness, and they could not even begin to comprehend before they met their demise. Only about 10 – 15 bugs flew off successfully in alarm but the rest were all captured.
Results and Aftermath
After 2-3 hours of methodical work, we successfully removed hundreds of bugs. The process required some strategy:
- Working systematically around the tree
- Returning to previous spots to catch newly exposed bugs
- Managing the expelled air direction to avoid odors
For disposal, we used boiling water:
- Poured two rounds of 1.5L hot water through the vacuum chamber
- NOTE: At 20 min the smell was still emenating, so we left the container overnight to ensure complete elimination
- By next day, the vacuum had no remaining odor
Follow-up Check
The next day revealed:
- Only 5 remaining bugs (4 young, 1 black)
- Tree appeared healthier
- Current year’s lemons likely bitter from bug damage, but tree’s recovery looked promising
On the third day:
- We dug a hole in the garden for the bugs
- Opened the lid and poured bug and water into the hole, buried the bugs
- Cleaned the vacuum and its wet filter with a hose
Picture of hundreds of bugs dead in hole!
Conclusion
The industrial vacuum cleaner method proved superior to traditional bug removal techniques, since it was efficient, safe and doesn’t disturb the tree that much! At the end of the day, we saved the lemon tree!