CLOSED: Is this eating my plants?

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shiva_kalima London, Canada Jul 01, 2008

I found this bug in my garden the other day. I see them out in the country around here a lot and was wondering if they are an aggressive species? My poor morning glories have been eaten down to the stem near the ground :(

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shiva_kalima London, Canada Jul 01, 2008

here is another one

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shiva_kalima London, Canada Jul 01, 2008

here is what is happening to my mg

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mwperry Brandon, MS(Zone 8a) Jul 01, 2008

shiva_kalima, your bug looks like a maturing nymph of a Boxwood-Elder Bug. It is my understanding they feed mainly on the leaves of Box-Elder, Ash, and Maple. I don't know if they will eat morning glories too. Maybe someone else might know. You can see what the adult looks like at that following link. If you scroll on down the page, you will find the nymphs which look identical to your bug.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/true_bugs_2.html

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 01, 2008

These bugs do not eat leaves of any kind, they feed primarily on the developing seeds of trees in the maple genus (Acer). However, I have on occasion found them feeding on raspberries and tender pea pods.

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mwperry Brandon, MS(Zone 8a) Jul 01, 2008

suunto, do you think it could be the Box-Elder Bug that is eating shiva_kalima's morning glory.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 01, 2008

Definitely not. Something with chewing mouthparts is doing that damage; boxelder bugs, like all true bugs, have piercing-sucking mouthparts and can only ingest liquids. Among the commoner feeders on morning glories and their relatives are tortoise beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) - see http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth08.html

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mwperry Brandon, MS(Zone 8a) Jul 01, 2008

Very interesting, Suuno. I looked up this beetle in my bug book. It eats morning glory, sweet potato, field bindweed, and related plants in the morning glory family. I couldn't find natural deterrents for management online -- just clean up debris from the beds after harvest, turn over the soil, rotate crops, and don't plant the same crop within one mile of the old bed. LOL! Not too useful for us gardeners.

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shiva_kalima London, Canada Jul 01, 2008

hello all,

I have seen some Imature Golden Tortoise Beetles around out there now that you have pointed it out. I am going to get rid of the other ones as well though. I went out front this morning and pulled some things out of the front garden...they are everywhere! I have tried using nicotine water, as well as soapy water to get rid of these pests...not sure what i am doing wrong. Thanks again!

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