Seed-eating Bug (Melanerythrus mactans)

Watch Reply

Mark unread Print Skip to new

kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Mar 26, 2009

Post #6320216

Quote

eagleeye56 Dublin, CA Apr 04, 2009

I have several of the Melanerythrus mactans, seed-eating bugs in my garden. I have recently planted green beans from seeds. I live in Dublin, California, within the Bay Area. Could these bugs do damage to my vegetable garden? What are the positives?

Post #6364941

Quote

kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Apr 05, 2009

eagleeye, it is very unlikely that the bugs in your garden are Melanerythrus mactans, as that species is confined to Australia, where I live.

There are several members of the Seed-bug family the Lygaeidae which do live in America and are quite similar in appearance to this bug.
I think the closest in appearance are the various Milkweed Bugs in the genus Oncopeltus: http://bugguide.net/node/view/316/bgpage

These are significant pests among milkweed plants but would be unlikely to harm a vegetable garden,

Kennedy