I get them pretty thick where I'm at and yeah; mostly annoying. They don't do near the damage that some of the other, more formidable pests do, but I agree that they are attracted to the same roses that thrips would frequent. I had posted previously that the biggest danger they pose to me, personally, is nostril entry.

Unlikely they are a pest on your tree, but more trying to over-winter in the tree. You didn't tell us where you live, and it's not in your Zone or My Page (helpful if you add that info for us on the GW forum). I would just hose your tree off well before you bring it inside. Patty S.

I think they are called cucumber beetles. The adults eat holes in the leafs and leave them skelatized(sp?). The larvae are in the soil and feed on the roots and spread cucumber bacterial wilt which will kill your cucumbers. I know that rotenone works and NEEM oil is supposed to work on them. The downside to rotenone is that it kills the beneficials and the bees which pollinate cukes. The NEEM oil is supposed to not have this downside. I haven't tried it yet but will be doing it soon becuase I have noticed some chewing on my cuke leaves. I know that there are various companion planting/alternative fixes out there, but I haven't had much luck with any of those. The last two years I have had a much reduced crop becuase of the wilt and so this year I am going to try the NEEM. If you do a general search for cucumber beetle, there are lots of websites with pictures to make sure that is what you have.

I've seen them eating the petals of my citrus blossoms too, though I did notice them nibbling on fresh foliage once. They must not have liked it much, since the foliage damage was barely noticeable. I just kill them as a matter of principal! -Tom