Over the past few weeks there have been numerous reports of bug invasions near Ridgecrest, Inyokern, and other cities in the high desert of eastern Kern County, California.  Residents and business owners have reported large aggregations of bugs within their homes, businesses, and on the streets.  There have been no reports of damage to agricultural crops, landscape plants, or people.  However, the nuisance and paranoia associated with bugs crawling on business walls and people has led to numerous inquiries into what is going on and how long it will last.

The bugs belong to a family of insects called lygaeids that are commonly referred to as seed bugs.  Seed bugs use their straw-like mouthparts to extract...