What bug is this?

totoro z7b Md

6 years ago

First time seeing this kind. Argh, i hope it is not another pestilence to battle.

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Patty W. zone 5a Illinois

6 years ago

That is one of my arch enemies a click beetle. The worse part of this beetle are its larvae. I believe they are called wireworms. Twice a year the beetles deposit their eggs in the soil by your plant roots. The wetter the soil the happier they are. I have in the past lost several ornamental grasses to wireworms and a few small newly planted roses. Newly planted perennials have been slaughtered as well. I hate them kill it. They will do serious damage to veggie gardens.

The wireworm can survive underground feeding on the roots of your plants for an eternity. Basically morphing once again into an adult to mate.

While plant death does not happen often should you dig up a dead young plant look for wireworms. I have found as many as twenty in the hole with a new plant as they are attracted to the loose moist soil. They are considered a serious agricultural pest in some areas.

To think that I used to consider them benignly cute them I learned the truth.Wireworms - Missouri Botanical Garden

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Comments (10)

enchantedrosez5bma
6 years ago
I have these too! I googled and it looks similar to rose chafer a definite bad bug!

Sharon
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Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
6 years ago
Ewww I've never seen that before! Sorry you have another pest on your hands
totoro z7b Md thanked Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
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vasue VA
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Looks like one of the click beetles, a forest floor dweller. Spy them once in a while when they're exposed, as yours, feeding on pollen just as a bloom is about to drop its spent petals. Haven't noticed any actual damage to roses from them over many years so leave them be. Just popping in at lunch without time for further details, but here are a couple of links. Sue

http://cirrusimage.com/wp/beetles-click/

# 22 at this Maryland bug id site - www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-type-and-region.asp?thisState=Maryland&thisType=Beetle
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enchantedrosez5bma
6 years ago
thanks Vasue- The brown one is kind of what mine looks like. It's good to know it doesn't eat the roses. We could have them since we back onto about 500 acres of woodland.

Sharon
totoro z7b Md thanked enchantedrosez5bma
enchantedrosez5bma
6 years ago
Thanks Patty. I don't see many of these but will kill them when I do.

Sharon
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totoro z7b Md
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks so much everyone. I will be on the lookout for them.
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
6 years ago
In case your interested, we seldom see them because they are nocturnal.
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R pnwz8a
5 years ago
Ok, I found wireworms in my new raised bed soil today when my newly planted lettuce died... i Am devastated gardening wise right now..I got a cedar bed made and ordered soil from a reputed nursery.. came with it 100s of wireworms and extra soil is already in my rose garden.. I am extremely disappointed right now.. my veggies gardens are gone for idobtonow how many years:( but I am really worried about my roses.. are they going to be ok ??
totoro z7b Md thanked R pnwz8a
sautesmom Sacramento
5 years ago
Wow, that nursery needs to buy you new clean soil plus pay to have it put in after taking out the bad soil!

Carla in Sac
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