Bug Identification?

5 years ago

Can anyone identify this bug that is on my eggplant? I posted on the advice page, but maybe I will get more response here. Thanks to all of you for the good advice I glean from you.

Featured Answer

digdirt2

5 years ago

Looks like maybe an instar stage of the spotted cuke beetle. They tend to be orange until they fade to yellow green with maturity. Looks like maybe some of the black eggs there on the leaf?

Dave

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Comments (13)

PRO
The Logician LLC
5 years ago
Beetles do not have instars, they go from grub stage to pupa and emerge as a fully sized and colored adult beetle.

Your insect is a beetle but not the spotted cuke beetle. Keep an eye out for any plant parts being chewed.
Garden Mama z 7b thanked The Logician LLC
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vgkg Z-7 Va
5 years ago
That "looks" like a Blister Beetle (head resembles an ant), and the plant looks like lettuce ;-)
Garden Mama z 7b thanked vgkg Z-7 Va
randy41_1
5 years ago
potato beetle
Garden Mama z 7b thanked randy41_1
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years ago
No, it's not a potato beetle. Wrong shape and wrong patterning.
Garden Mama z 7b thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Garden Mama z 7b
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes, it is on the romaine lettuce, next to the eggplant, but I saw it first on the eggplant. I have had some chewing. Thank you all!
vgkg Z-7 Va
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Blister Beetles come in all sorts of colors but this one below looks like what you have,...

http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_darklings/images/PC9_0163.jpg
PRO
The Logician LLC
5 years ago
It could be a blister beetle. You have provided a link to insects of Brisbane, Australia, a relatively small locale. Garden Mama does not provide any location info.
Garden Mama z 7b
Original Author
5 years ago
Again, my mistake. I am in zone 7, central Arkansas, in the suburbs. I need to edit my profile, don't I?
PRO
The Logician LLC
5 years ago
Yes, gardening and insect pest advice is far easier if the locale is known.

There are not a lot of beneficial beetles on vegetables, of course any ladybeetle species can be encouraged to stay. And if only a single odd beetle is present, don't worry too much unless you see it chewing. Your beetle is not a borer that attacks roots.

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The Australian blister beetle linked to above is in the genus Zonitis and I could not find any similar beetles in that genus for the USA.
vgkg Z-7 Va
5 years ago
Thx for locating the origin of that particular BB Logician, it looks like a dead ringer, sheesh, hope it's not another one to add to the invasive species list.
PRO
The Logician LLC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Garden Mama, I found your beetle in the family known as Leaf Beetles.

It is Neolema sexpunctata - Six-spotted Neolema.

https://bugguide.net/node/view/353402/bgimage

https://bugguide.net/node/view/805687/bgimage

https://bugguide.net/node/view/40278#food

^this page lists food sources for this beetle, mainly Spiderworts and Day Flowers, there is no mention of eating on garden vegetables (unless they are related to Spiderworts)

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To the other members attempting an identification: note the many matches required: orange body, orange and narrow thorax and head, six black spots in a certain pattern, dark medium-length antennae, black legs. Also the range for this beetle includes Arkansas. Little beetles are hard to identify, there are thousands.
Garden Mama z 7b
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! I will keep this site for future research.