Hi,
I have a Variegated Ginger that's turning yellow. I think it's infested with these little bugs that are sucking the life out of it. Please ID, and let me know what to use to get rid of them. Thanks. The bug has a bright red body, and a black head.
It's smaller than a ladybug, and does NOT have ladybug spots. The body is more round than a ladybug, too. Sorry about the fuzziness in the pic.
This message was edited Aug 7, 2007 8:58 PM
Here's one more. I think it's some sort of aphid, maybe?
This message was edited Aug 7, 2007 9:00 PM
Hmmm ... curious.
I don't think its an aphid. Does it look like these uncategorized bugs?
http://bugguide.net/node/view/29655/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/129544/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/26396/bgimage
This message was edited Aug 7, 2007 9:35 PM
Or maybe a very young milkweed bug?
http://bugguide.net/node/view/34959/bgimage
Hey,
Yeah, it looks like that tiny, shiny red bug, but NOT quite as big as the young milkweed bug. Ok, I'm getting the creeps. Been looking at enough bugs today. signing off.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/129544/bgimage
Boy, it sure does look like your first link, Linda. But they don't know what it is....
Edited to say: Well, it looks like all of them, but they still don't know what they are.
This message was edited Aug 7, 2007 10:27 PM
Do they know if it's a GOOD or a BAD creature? I'm all for leaving it alone if it's beneficial. Just that the Ginger is turning yellow, a sign of either something sucking the life out of it, or too much water, which I don't think is the case...
No, they don't. But I don't think that little bug would do that kind of damage. It looks to me like a nymph of a bug, and it is quite possibly a good guy. It resembles many of the spine shouldered stink bugs, which are beneficial. Have you seen many of them? Have you ever observed it (they) with their proboscis stuck into a plant, sucking juice from it? It may just be wandering about looking for an insect to eat.
My variegated ginger is turning colors too, and I believe it is just too much water or lack of water, with the heat and humidity combined. First we had too much rain, and now I had better get out there and do some watering!
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I believe your ginger problem is cultural, not insect or disease related.
But I sure wish I knew what bug that was!!
I think the bugs in the last photo on this WhatsThatBug link are similar to yours ... they don't know exactly what they are either ...
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/true_bugs_5.html
