I have had an autumn blooming clematis for several years and have yet to see it ever bloom because of the blister beetles. The do not bother anything else in my garden but each year the attack this poor vine and eat until there is literally not a shred of foilage to be found. There seem to be hundreds of them! The clematis has always recoverd and grown new foilage, but I am sure that it is not good for the plant and certainly not good for me as these nasty looking things really creep me out. They are black and silver. How can I get rid of them??
Blister Beetles on Clematis, please help!
Have you tried Seven?
Besides 'Sevin', which is an insecticide/fungicide, you might want to spray with a light horticultural oil, which will help to smoother those nasty bugs.
I had not tried anything as yet. I will try both. I know that Wal-Mart carries Sevin dust. Would the garden centers have horticulteral oil? How would I apply it?
Garden centers carry Light Horticultural Oil. You should spray it on your Clematis leaves.
Don't ever sit on a blister beetle. It smarts. I've learned that the hard way. *sigh* I was about 10, and it's still fresh in my memory... LOL