Weird bugs swamming on Crape Myrtle
solstice98
16 years ago
Eeeuuuwww! What is this?
I was watering today and saw several large clumps of this little tan bug. Almost every group was being herded or harvested by the larger black bug. It really looked like wolves running, then attacking and eating sheep.
Is this something I should be spraying for?
You can almost hear the munching noises.
Herding?
Herded!
With eggs maybe?
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Comments (28)
solstice98
16 years agoRelated Discussions
four-o-clocks gota love em
Comments (111)Searched on "4 O'Clocks" and this discussion came up. Nice old discussion! In my area (Maritime NW) I have never seen 4 O'clocks in the nurseries and big box stores. I'm speculating that's because most of their flowers are sold in bloom, and 4 O'clocks bloom when larger. They probably don't bloom in little 6-packs or even in 1-gallon containers. I'm guessing about that. Also, if the flowers are not reliably open when the stores are open, people might not buy them. I bought seeds via the internet. Feeling nostalgic about gardening from my childhood, and these 4 O'clocks were part of that. I grew some about 10 years ago and as I recall they did OK here. I'm more into gardening now than I was then, so maybe they'll grow better. Plus I have a deer and rabbit problem, and maybe they'll be resistant to those animals. Maybe. I read start them 6 to 8 weeks indoors before the last frost, for cool climates like mine. They can also be planted in the ground, but maybe will start blooming later. A packet has plenty of sees, so I can try both. Nice discussion! I've lost the experiences of older gardeners in my family, and it seems there aren't a lot of gardeners in my neighborhood, so it's up to me to discover what works and what doesn't. Pass-along plants like these are worth preserving for the next generation!...See MoreBig bugs/ large mounds of dirt
Comments (9)When I first saw the wasp, I wasn't sure it was a wasp at all. It looked like a cross between a dragonfly and a wasp. They have very long legs, the thorax is striped yellow and brown, and the abdomen is long and thin. I found one deceased on a leaf and was able to examine it a bit closer. It was wholly intact. I am not real fond of them because they are predators of caterpillars, and you know how I feel about butterflies since I have a butterfly garden that includes their larval host plants and nectar plants. In that I don't use chemicals of any kind, I have to accept the good, the bad, and the ugly along with the butterflies and moths. Wheel bugs remind me of the "armored cars" of the bug world. They are a steely grey color, and pretty large. I'll attach a photo of one. They are also predators. I found two of them and put both to rest. I only hope I don't have any eggs around the yard. Geez! Both the wasp and the Wheel bug are considered beneficials. Not to me, but to many veggie gardeners, in that they will attack horn worms on tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, and other caterpillars that harm vegetables, grasshoppers, etc. But, they are not selective so don't exclude the beautiful butterfly larvae, bees, and other things I try to attract in the garden from their diet. Here's a link for the Ichneumon wasp. They are about 1.5" long and tall, so good sized. "Ichneumon Wasp" Susan Here is a link that might be useful:...See MoreWeird black bugs crawling up my crepe myrtle
Comments (2)I know exactly what they are, having seen them several times in Hilton Head/Beaufort,SC. I think it might have been on Rose Hill Plantation (you're familiar, probably) that I first saw them...and on a Crape myrtle! Pretty weird, huh? They are winged and non-winged versions of the Giant Bark Aphid, an insect that I am pretty sure is pretty rare, at least in my experience. It is considered the largest of all the aphids....See MoreFungus or four-lined plant bug damage on autumn sage?
Comments (25)nightmart, Might hold off cutting the daisy back until you no longer see the bugs. That way, you'll be more likely to take any eggs away with what you remove. A very good chance the problem on the bee balm is actually fungi (powdery mildew) rather than four-lined plant bug damage; probably a bad year for this, too, due to all the moisture.... and many monarda are especially susceptible. If PM, yes it could also spread to the roses. Can't remember the commercial spray we used for our crape myrtle PM problems in Houston, but noticed that neem oil is listed as an eradicant on this master gardener PM page - so will hopefully will give you good results. We've planted PM resistant varieties in Dallas and have not had to resort to chemical treatments... so far, anyway. I second marti8a's recommendation to get rid of any potentially egg carrying cuttings rather than composting them....See Morekatkin_gw
16 years agolaura1
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15 years agoPatricia Grazulis
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
these are the different stages that Iv seen on my CM.Patricia Grazulis
2 years ago
Kylie Orta
2 years agoirma_stpete_10a
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Rudy Anne
last year
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solstice98Original Author