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Re: Bug ID, please

Hi Lisa,

> a constant stream of ants up and down a couple of the branches...  Looking
> closer, I noticed that where the ants were, there were also these MUCH larger
> bugs that seem to have spikes on them.  They are about as long as a pencil
> eraser is wide, sorta brownish-grey and black striped down the length of their
> bodies and definitely have six legs.  No discernible antennae.  When you
> vigorously shake the branch, the ants sometimes fall off, but NOT these
> suckers...  A strong spray of water only makes them move to the other side of
> the branch.  I wound up chopping this whole plant down to the ground.  That
[...]
> Whatever plants these bugs latch onto tend to totally droop, too.  It doesn't
> stop the plant fighting, though...they all try to grow even harder and bigger,
> BUT these bugs are literally sucking the LIFE out of these babies...

> Lisa Lisa

It's a bit hard to ID based on what you wrote.  The spikes make it sound like
some sort of caterpillar ... but is it that or a hard shelled beetle or ???  Six
legs means it's an insect for sure.  The wilting may be due to a virus or other
infection that it's transmitting in the process of feeding.

If you want to go organic, hand picking is the first and safest step.  Sprays of
water are usually good, but you've tried that.  Soapy water is worth trying, but
if it's a hard shelled beetle it likely won't be that effective.  If it
is a caterpillar you may be able to use bt to control them.  Nothing personal to
Shirley, but I wouldn't use sevin or other broad spectrum poisons
indiscriminately, if at all. They will kill all the insects, pest and beneficial
alike.  I tolerate insects in my garden, they have a tendency to balance each
other out in most cases and most pose no threat.  Better to positively ID the
critter first if you can, there may be a less severe cure.  You have definitely
seen it feeding on the plants? It is a piercing, sucking feeder as opposed to
leaf eater?

For the future, I'd apply lots of compost to the soil.  Plants have an amazing
ability to resist pests and disease when they get great nutrition.

Cheers!

--
 Bob Carter  -  bcarter@awinc.com
 Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada  -  Zone 6b
--

TACT: Knowing how far to go in going too far.

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