CLOSED: Orange/black shield shaped big eating my brussels sprouts?!

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Wingnut Spicewood, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 05, 2002

What is this swarming on my brussels sprouts plants? It's shaped like those green squash bugs ~ wide shoulders that taper to a rounded hind end. It's about 3/8 inch long, orange being the basic color with black spots on each side and a black triangle in the middle below the shoulders. Underneath is basically black with lots of white and orange making a rather intricate and balanced pattern of triangles, ovals and dots. It's not really a beetle, I don't think, but does have wings and a shiny shell covering them. It has six legs and the antennae aren't but maybe 1/8 inch long.

Any ideas? Times like this I wish I had a camera that took close-ups!

(I also posted this on "Garden Talk," so if you remember seeing it somewhere else, no, you're not losing it! LOL!)

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Wingnut Spicewood, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 05, 2002

Louisa gave me the answer on Garden Talk ~ it's a Harlequin bug. Thanks again, Louisa! Man, she's fast! Now off to find out how to get rid of them...

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Apr 05, 2002

Do they chew the leaves, or do they seem to suck the juices from the plants?

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Apr 05, 2002

Here's one link:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/leaf/harlequin_bug.htm

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Wingnut Spicewood, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 05, 2002

Awesome site, Kimberly! Thanks so much! I've got it bookmarked now! It says to control them by hand-picking and smashing eggs ~ just what Louisa's site said and the others I've found. ICK! But atleast I've got lots of practice at that. *grin* Off I go to get my bucket of beer and head to the garden...

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Aimee Georgetown, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 05, 2002

Aww, Wingnut, don't take it so hard! It's nothing to drive you to drink a bucket of beer.

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Wingnut Spicewood, TX(Zone 8b) Apr 05, 2002

Hee-hee, Aimee...the beer's for the bugs ~ I like to send 'em off with a smile on their face (What a way to go, huh?). Then I feed the compost pile's alcohol habit. Now, the bucket of wine's for me. *grin*

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Aimee Georgetown, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 05, 2002

Attagirl!

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