Stepping outdoors can sometimes lead to an uncomfortable encounter with what many commonly refer to as “sticker bugs.” Despite the name, these aren’t insects at all, but rather the spiny seed pods or burrs of various plants. These botanical hitchhikers are a common source of frustration, easily attaching to clothing, pet fur, and even bare skin.
Understanding “Sticker Bugs”
“Sticker bugs” are essentially the seed dispersal mechanisms of certain plants, designed with hooks, barbs, or sharp spines to cling to passing animals or humans. Common culprits include sandbur (Cenchrus spp.), burweed (Soliva sessilis), and puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), often called goathead. Sandburs are grass-like weeds with prickly, burr-like seed heads that readily cling to shoes and fur. Burweed, also known as spurweed, features small, fern-like leaves and produces sharp, spiny seed pods that cause irritation. Puncturevine is notable for its exceptionally pointed and tough seed pods that can even puncture bicycle tires.
Where Sticker Bugs Thrive
These sticker-producing plants are opportunistic growers, often found in disturbed or neglected areas. Common habitats include lawns, gardens, fields, roadsides, and sandy or poorly maintained soil. Sandburs, for instance, thrive particularly well in sandy or well-drained soils, while burweed frequently appears in lawns and open fields. Such plants often exploit areas with inadequate water drainage, heavy foot traffic, or drought conditions, which create optimal growing environments for their infestations. Their ability to spread is enhanced by human activity, animal movement, and lawn equipment.
Removing Sticker Bugs
Careful removal is important to avoid injury or further embedding.
On Skin
For stickers on skin, tweezers can extract larger burrs, while duct tape or other sticky tape can lift smaller spines. Applying warm water or even wax hair remover can also help loosen tiny prickles.
On Pets
For pets, gently detangling the fur around the burr with fingers, a wide-toothed comb, or a pick-type grooming tool is effective. Applying cooking oil or coconut oil to the affected fur can act as a lubricant, making removal easier, and for severe cases, professional grooming or veterinary assistance may be necessary.
On Clothing
From clothing, lint rollers, duct tape, or stiff brushes can remove surface stickers. For more embedded burrs, a fine-toothed comb or even a dull knife can be used to scrape them off while the fabric is taut.
Preventing Sticker Bugs
Long-term management involves proactive strategies to control the growth of these plants. Promoting a healthy, dense turf through proper lawn care is a primary defense, as well-maintained grass can outcompete weeds like sandburs. This includes appropriate mowing height, adequate watering, and regular fertilization. For existing plants, manual removal by hand-pulling is effective for small infestations, especially before they produce seeds. For larger areas, herbicides offer a chemical solution.
Herbicide Application
Pre-emergent herbicides are applied before seeds germinate to create a barrier in the soil, preventing growth. Post-emergent herbicides target weeds that have already sprouted and are actively growing. Applying pre-emergent products in late winter or early spring, before soil temperatures rise, is recommended for preventing sandburs.