Tan insect eggs on broccoli. Good guys or bad?

16 years ago

I posted this yesterday on the Pests forum, but no response yet, so I'm cross-posting it.

I found a cluster of eggs on one of my broccoli plants, and I'd like to know what they are before I crush them.

They are on the upper side of a leaf, not the underside.

They are in an irregular group of about 15

Tan in color

Football-shaped

Does anyone know what they are?

And a related question, does anyone know of a good website that shows you what pest eggs look like?

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Comments (8)

vgkg Z-7 Va
16 years ago
Here's a batch of Squash Bug eggs, if you have (or had) squash plants nearby they may have laid them there :
{{gwi:63331}}

best guess
iacche
Original Author
16 years ago
That's not quite it. Mine are paler than that, a little paler than the lightest of those, and they're not so plump. And mine are stuck onto the leaf on their ends, not their sides.

These eggs are about 1mm long, if that helps at all.
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Dody, Many insect eggs look alike and it can be very hard to distinguish one type from another. If you really want to know, pluck the leaf, put it in a jar with air holes punched in the lid, and see what hatches. If they are lady beetle eggs, you'll have little grayish larvae that look sort of like tiny alligators. They do not look at all like lady beetles at this point. If they are caterpillars of any kind, that's bad news for your broccoli and other cole crops! Dawn
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vgkg Z-7 Va
16 years ago
Check out these pics at site below. The only pests that bother my broccoli are loopers that hatch from various moth eggs, and also harliqiun bugs. Doubtful they are from the Harliquin bug (sp) as they look barrel shaped like this:
{{gwi:63332}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Various moth egg pics
justaguy2
16 years ago
Anything that lays eggs on a vegetable plant is 90+% likely to be a pest you don't want.

Bugs lay eggs on plants that the young are supposed to feed on.

Eggs on veggies almost always equal something squish worthy.

I commend you for wanting to know what the bug is (will be) before killing it, that is noble.

The sad truth is that while there are zillions of bugs out there, many good, many harmless when it comes to veggy gardens the ratio is turned upside down. Most bugs in a veggy garden are either harmful or there to eat harmful bugs and bugs that lay eggs on veggies almost always are the harmful ones.

Eggs on veggies=squish.
iacche
Original Author
16 years ago
I agree that most eggs are going to turn out to be nasties, but a couple years ago I destroyed a bunch of lacewing eggs. Felt very stupid about that one for a long time. I'll continue to keep an eye on the eggs and search the internet for pics.

One more reason why I really ought to get a digital camera.
gumby_ct
16 years ago
I usu. find the looper (green worms) on my broccoli. Came across the site below with some pics of eggs but the loopers eggs are white. Maybe you can find what you need there?

It seems most eggs are laid under the leaves, not on top.
Good Luck,
Gumby_CT

Here is a link that might be useful: Pests of the North East
iacche
Original Author
16 years ago
Update:

Well, I'm glad I didn't crush them. I'm now the proud foster-parent of 15 baby ladybugs.

I just googled "ladybug eggs" to double-check:

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:63330}}
digdirt2
16 years ago
Good on!!! Pass out the cigars!!! ;)

Dave

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Tan insect eggs on broccoli. Good guys or bad?

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vgkg Z-7 Va

iacche
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Tan insect eggs on broccoli. Good guys or bad?

Comments (8)

vgkg Z-7 Va

iaccheOriginal Author

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vgkg Z-7 Va

justaguy2

iaccheOriginal Author

gumby_ct

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digdirt2

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