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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Help with identifying this very weird looking bug

11 years ago

Anyone knows what is this mysterious bug that is eating away the leaves in my garden? Maybe this is not the right place to ask about bugs but I just feel more comfortable in this forum. I tried to google but it seems kind of hard to describe this bug's appearance. This bug looked so weird with its weird spiked tail that I don't know how to describe this. Here is it when at first glance:
{{gwi:261982}}

Below is this mysterious bug with its tail pried up with a toothpick-size stick:
{{gwi:261983}}

Hope you guys can help me. Thanks.

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Comments (12)

ceth_k
Original Author
11 years ago
I'll just reply myself so that this strange bug won't stay at top of the forum.....
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
I have no idea what it is, but that's a neat way to camouflage itself. The tracks look like the action of a leafminer - The Garden Clinic would be a good place to ask.

Claire
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Emma, Aphids primarily attack new growth on roses. They multiply quickly. Most have no wings but some do. As the season progresses they usually die off. They can't take very high heat. However roses growing in some shade can get aphids all the time because of the cooler temperatures in the shade. A firm spray of water will knock them off to the ground. They are generally not able to return. However an every other day repetition of the water spray for a number of times is usually necessary because the first spray does not usually wash them all off. Those that are left quickly make more aphids, so a single spray is usually ineffective. The water spray should only be strong enough to wash them off. If the spray is too strong you will damage the delicate young foliage. Direct the water spray upward at an angle to the growing tip to minimize foliage damage and wash off as many aphids as possible. If you spray an insecticide instead you may reduce the risk of damaging the the tender new foliage which is a strong possibility with a water wash off. I recommend you use a good hand spray bottle, held close to the infested tips, set on a spray pattern where you see the aphids being washed off, but the foliage is not being damaged. You can control this easily by the way you squeeze the spray bottle trigger. If you use a garden hose, do not go at the tips full blast, adjust the force and spray pattern carefully, or the foliage can be ripped up. You do not want to damage the tender new foliage as you kill the aphids. I have learned this important detail the hard way! I hope you have good success. Aphids can do a lot of damage. Moses
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ericwi
11 years ago
Dear Ceth K, I see that you live in Malaysia. Is this photo taken recently? If not, on what date was the photo taken? Also, what type of plants does the insect prefer for food?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
It's the larvae of one of the leaf eating beetles, probably a tortoise beetle species.

Claire, leaf miners feed on the inside of the leaf, not the outside.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
Thanks, rhizo_1. I did a little googling just because it's a great looking bug, but I should have gone further. I just found this quote:

"Some leaf-surface feeding insects may appear like leaf mines."

Leaf-Mining Insects

So it's the larva of a leaf-surface feeding beetle. Sort of like skimming the frosting off a piece of cake and leaving the cake for the leaf-miners.

Claire
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
Not quite the same but similar.

Claire
ceth_k
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Claire for you help. Nature is amazing, huh. I'm not even sure how these guys eat the leaves, mining or not. Can't see their mouth.

ericwi , these photos are taken just recently(like yesterday, the day I posted it here), and yes I live in Malaysia. Strange bugs are everywhere in this planet ,we just have to look closer. Anyway the bugs are feeding on the leave of a small tree. And there are a few ladybirds(4 spots) there but they are not bothered by them too. Isn't ladybird carnivorous? This bug is looking more and more mesmerizing to me.
ceth_k
Original Author
11 years ago
Wait, no way! The bugs that I mistaken for Ladybird are actually tortoise beetles! They looked so similar with ladybird, what a nice misleading appearance! No wonder they're so happy eating the leave together with the above-mentioned strange bugs! My garden is such a strange and crazy place. Gonna kill them all....
ceth_k
Original Author
11 years ago
Finally, this guy is just like what rhizo_1 said it is, a tortoise beetle larvae. The adult tortoise beetle look like ladybird. Here are photos i just took:
{{gwi:261984}}
They wouldn't let go of each other so I have no choice. Here's another:
{{gwi:261985}}
They look so much like ladybird! Cunning little *beep*. The next time I starting seeing them they won't stay in one piece.

This is their dried carcass that I found on the floor:
{{gwi:261986}}
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
ceth_k: X-rated/"Dirty" pictures on the Soil forum? (I think those beetles are mating.)

Claire
gargwarb
11 years ago
Thanks, the timing on these pictures could not have been any better.

{{gwi:261987}}
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
Ceth, I'm glad that you found some adults. The tortoise beetles are a very large group of different...yet similar...leaf eating beetles. I think that some of them are among the most beautiful beetles in the world.

Click on the link to look at a few others.

Here is a link that might be useful: Different kinds of tortoise beetles

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