Are they Asiatic beetles, smaller than JBs, come out at night, are attracted to light, and are a dull copper color?

They can do some damage and aren't particular about what they eat. Yes please post a picture.

Robert - do they eat the new growth on your roses as well? Something nocturnal has a taste for the new growth in my garden, but particularly on climbers. It seems to know what's a climber and what's not - even if the climbers are just bands!!!

George

Robert, I've added a link to a site about earwigs, look and see if this looks like your insect. They are nocturnal and they love clematis.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Earwigs

Carol,

These bugs are definitely NOT earwigs...nor do they seem to do damage to anything other than clematis...I noticed a Texensis clematis that was completely defoliated today. Also, it's remarkable how few of these insects are found on an infested clematis...3-6 per plant max. I noticed that they also seem to smell like fireflies; i.e., they have a certain odor about them, not a similar behavior trait. These guys are a thousand times more destructive than Japanese beetles... I had never seen anything like this. Here is a pic of them

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Robert

Bummer! The link to the larger picture isn't working.

At first I thought the might be soldier beetles. But soldier beetles are carnivores, not herbivores. If they are soldier beetles they could be there to feast on whatever is eating your pretty clematis.

Blister beetle, perhaps? They seem like the nasties that would eat your clematis. Link below. Once you open the link, scroll down the page a bit and click on the blister beetle article.

May I also say.....ick?!?!

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Blister Beetle -- creepy little devil

Be very careful with these insects and don't handle them.

These critters contain cantharidin, which is toxic to humans and animals. Check out the link below.

Whatever you do don't kill them by squeezing! I wouldn't pussyfoot around with them.

I'd support whatever method was necessary to rid your plants of this noxious pest. Remember, though, they are still toxic when dead, so don't let them near any foodstuffs, whether they are dead or alive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blister beetle intoxication/poisoning

This is a new one to me------thanks for a very informative post-

Florence

lionheart,

Thanks so much. I believe that what I've got IS the black blister beetle. And, I will stop handling them from this point.

Ironically, the other day I developed a blister on my forearm, for no apparent reason...no burn, no prickle, nothing...I probably had squirted some beetlejuice on my arm as I was squishing them.

These guys are definitely worse than Japanese Beetles...I wonder what their natural predators are and why they've come here.

Robert

Thank goodness I don't think I've seen those in my garden. I have heard about them, though.

Robert,

I have them too, I thought is was grasshoppers eating the clematis since the grass has gone dormant because of the drought. I agree they are worse than Japanese Beetles. They have done unbelievable damage in a very short period of time. Just when the JB population is declining, I have these nasties show up. At least my clematis looked good when the JBs were eating the roses, and now the roses are looking good while the clematis are being destroyed.

Kathy

Robert and Kathy,

As if Japanese beetles are not enough, your plants get assaulted with these nasty creatures. I'm so sorry.

Must be a bumper year for them. I can't say I've ever seen them, but they apparently love grain plants (alfalfa and the like) and they are not just warm zone bugs, like fire ants are. They've been a problem in places like the U.S. Plains and the Canadian Plains, where temps can get bitterly cold in the winter.

Yes, Robert, I believe you have found a worse blight than JBs. Sorry about the blister. I googled "blister beetle" and saw some photos of people with nasty blisters from these insects. Be careful.

The thing is that it takes only 2-3 beetles to defoliate an entire, albeit young, clematis...I HATE THESE BUGS!

Robert

Where are the praying mantis when you need them!

I identify insects for a living and my first thought upon seeing the picture, before I'd read any further in the thread was, "No, not fireflies. Those are blister beetles." The scientific name for that beetle family is "Meloidae". I've never personally had to deal with them, so unfortunately I can't offer much in the way of control advice.

Where are these beetles found? Are they a pest in Florida?

Sandy

I find all my praying mantis in the butterfly bush....not exactly where I want them.