Lantana Beetle

23 years ago

Has anyone come across this beetle, it has arrived at my garden and is on the gesha girl and others that I don't know the name of. Have tried different sprays but still alive and well, someone said on a gardening programe to just use soapy water so will try that tomorrow.

I don't know how those who should know better can let a beetle out before testing it properly, it is said they only tested it on 60 plants, looks like the cane toad all over again, they have done no research into how to get rid of it if it becomes a pest which it is becoming.

Any hints would be appreciated.

Sue

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Comments (9)

Amelie
23 years ago
I have heard so much about this bug that I was going to ask if anyone had it in their garden.
Whereabouts in Qld do you live?
I hope that someone can help you (we all need to be prepared).
gardenlen
23 years ago
is there a pic of this beetle online or can someone describe it please?

len
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Beautiful pics Sherry. Every place I've visted Lantana was always a great nectaring plant for Leps. It's very popular with the leps in the tropical rain forests where it grows 12' tall to the lowest deserts. In the desert's of the southwest a large clump is like a beacon to every lep species needing a drink, and during the hottest months it's not uncommon to find a lone clump completely covered in leps, bees, flies, beetles and bugs jostling for a spot. Enter "New Gold" here in Las Vegas. This cultivar is easily the most popular Lantana planted here, both in private yards and on commercial properties. It stays fresh year round and requires no care and little water, so I guess that's why it is so popular. Where I live now New Gold is planted in mounds everywhere in the xeriscape, both as a filler and as specimen plants. Now the strange part that I've noticed ever since I moved here a dozen years ago... leps wise nothing but various skippers and Hyles lineata (White-lined Sphinx) ever visit it. Other lep species might give it a fly-by, but they never land on it to nectar. Bee's and beetles don't seem to like it much either. Anyway, anybody else have New Gold and noticed the same?
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carrie, around here the 4 o'clocks will make a big tuberous root that will come back bigger and faster in subsequent years, and you'll have blooms much sooner. mine would be full bore by now, but with the strange spring and the droughty conditions i haven't had blooms on even the old ones yet. just let them go this year, and next year should be better. you can get a head start by buying tubers, which are sometimes sold in spring. they'll actually reseed so much you may regret planting them in a few years. they are easy to weed as seedlings, though. the jb's fly when it's warm, so if you are going to do soapy water, it really helps to do it during the morning or evening hours when it's cooler. if you have to do it midday, try spraying them with cold water first, which will slow them down temporarily. after a few days of going after them with the cup/jugs, they'll get wise and move quicker. good luck!
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Ken....you are soooo off base. I could just pinch your head off. Willow, this forum is perfect for a discussion about JBs and their habits. Same for those other forums, but this one is probably the most suitable. And it's a good subject, too. People could make their lives a lot easier if they gave some thought to plant selection regarding pest damage. I'm happy to report that we have carefully avoided most of the usual ornamental plants so attractive to these pesky beetles! As a matter of fact, JBs are the reason why we didn't even consider some of the plants on your list. It's the veggies that will become beetle food in my yard. In a bad year, the damage can be terrible. Some years ago, I started to apply 'Surround ', a totally organic product consisting of kaolin clay. A couple of coats does a great job of protecting my veggies from many pests, and from heat and sun scald, too. Looks funny, though. Not ideal for ornamentals because of that. In my yard, here are five plants these pests avoid : 1. All of my conifers 2. Daylilies (all varieties) 3. Angelonia 4. Spirea (we have a dwarf variety, can't recall the cultivar right now) 5. Lantana And many more.....:-) Thanks for the great topic and I hope you'll be back often. This is a slow time of year, but it'll be jumping in a few weeks.
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gillymore
Original Author
23 years ago
I am in Logan City and have it on a lot of plants, they say when the warmer weather comes it will go till then we have to watch it.
On the radio this morning they said treat it like any sucking beetle, I have sprayed with white oil which was one of the recommendations, I will let you know how I go.
It is very small actually it looks like a rose thorn on the stem, as I said small with a horn on its head thats what makes it look like a thorn, (weird)
Watch out for it, it leaves a black sticky mess.
The site to look up is the Queensland Natural Resources and Mine. The bug is called aconophora compressa a leaf hopper commonly called the lantana beetle. This last I got from this mornings Sunday mail.
Good Luck

Sue
Amelie
23 years ago
Sue, do you have just a few or are your plants covered in them (like the pictures they showed on TV)?
I'm wondering if you could pick them off by hand?
I usually do this with aphids etc, but I don't have too much of a problem, so this is usually easy for me.
gillymore
Original Author
23 years ago
Yes I have tried that Amelie but the trouble is they are in the Sheeners Gold and that can be quite prickly itself, there are really a lot there but the white oil seems to have worked so far (cross fingers)
I am just going to try the soapy water for a few weeks and see what happens.
Sue
Amelie
23 years ago
It's worthwhile everyone keeping their eyes open for this wonderful new pest!
moreton
23 years ago
Hi All, Aconophora it looks like a Rose thorn on the plants. Try this link for updates. Good luck. Peter r

Here is a link that might be useful: Look for Garden Pests Updates.
Amelie
23 years ago
That NR&M article sure is playing down the possible disastrous impact of our new pest friend. Not sure I believe the recent media reports either - What experiences have others had with this?
Amelie
23 years ago
This evening, I found some of these on one of my Geisha Girls. I cut back most of the plant and have put the cuttings in a bin liner.
I'm not very attached to this plant but it was still a nasty surprise, and quite worrying, to find this pest in my garden.
I will examine other plants tomorrow.
The NRM article (mentioned above) really tells us nothing, but they are investigating the best methods of control .... um ... shouldn't that have come before the pest was released?
It would be interesting to compile of list of the plants that this pest is affecting (and not just 'resting' on as the NRM says they do ... I'm a bit cynical about that one I must admit).
What plants have you found aconophora on .. so far ..?

Lantana Beetle

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Lantana Beetle

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