What is this bug? - Ask Extension
I have a large infestation of these very tiny red and black bugs on my azealas, clematis, and roses. They are probably on other plants as well but the...
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What is this bug? #457306
Asked May 27, 2018, 3:38 PM EDT
I have a large infestation of these very tiny red and black bugs on my azealas, clematis, and roses. They are probably on other plants as well but these are the plants I have been working with. The bugs bite. What are they? Do they harm plants, and if so, how do I get rid of them? I am including a picture of the bug. I have more pictures and I caught some in a clear plastic sandwich bag. Thanks!
*** I am in ARLINGTON COUNTY - North Arlington - Not Virginia Beach. Sorry about that ***
I will attach two more pictures. One is a bit blurry but it shows two of the bugs in a small rose blossom, for scale. The other is the sandwich bag - but is of another bug. Perhaps it is the adult version?
*** I am in ARLINGTON COUNTY - North Arlington - Not Virginia Beach. Sorry about that ***
I will attach two more pictures. One is a bit blurry but it shows two of the bugs in a small rose blossom, for scale. The other is the sandwich bag - but is of another bug. Perhaps it is the adult version?
Virginia Beach County Virginia
Expert Response
Hello,
What you have is a Shiny Flea Beetle. If you want to you can bring it into the VCE Horticulture Help Desk at the Fairlington Community Center. We are open at Extension 8-5 and the help desk is staffed from 9-12 noon weekdays.
Description Shiny Flea Beetle, Asphaera lustrans, in the Chrysomelidae family
This beetle has a shiny red head and thorax and a shiny green elytra. It is about 1/3 rd of an inch long. As is true of all flea beetles the hind leg femora is greatly enlarged.
Occurrence
This beetle is usually found on skullcap, a plant in the mint family. aphed in early Adult flea beetles feed externally on plants, eating the surface of the leaves, stems and petals.
Comments
Flea beetles are a general name applied to the small, jumping beetles of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). They make up the tribe Alticini, which is a part of the subfamily Galerucinae,
Description Shiny Flea Beetle, Asphaera lustrans, in the Chrysomelidae family
This beetle has a shiny red head and thorax and a shiny green elytra. It is about 1/3 rd of an inch long. As is true of all flea beetles the hind leg femora is greatly enlarged.
Occurrence
This beetle is usually found on skullcap, a plant in the mint family. aphed in early Adult flea beetles feed externally on plants, eating the surface of the leaves, stems and petals.
Comments
Flea beetles are a general name applied to the small, jumping beetles of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). They make up the tribe Alticini, which is a part of the subfamily Galerucinae,
Control of flea beetles:
Common Host Plant(s): Tomato, pepper, cabbage and related crops, eggplant, beet, spinach, turnip, mustard and radish. Damage: Young plants, especially transplants, are severely damaged. Adults and larvae chew many tiny holes in leaves.
Lifecycle: Adults overwinter in soil; in early spring they begin feeding on crop foliage. Females deposit eggs near the soil line where larvae emerge in about a week and feed on roots. Larvae feed for two to three weeks until reaching maturity and then pupate, emerging from the soil as adults in about two weeks. Cultural
Control: Plow under weed and crop debris in the fall after harvest. Chemical Control: Treat with a registered insecticide when damage appears or when insects appear in damaging numbers. Repeat applications as needed and carefully follow label instructions.
Carbaryl – Do not apply within one day of harvest. FOR SWEET CORN: do not apply to tassel region of corn during the pollen shedding period will seriously reduce the bee population Imidacloprid – pre-harvest interval = 21 days
Malathion – Do not apply within one day of harvest
Thiamethoxam – See label for instructions
Organic/Biological Control Dust with diatomaceous earth or rotenone for serious infestations. Azadirachtin – Can be applied on day of harvest, must be allowed to dry Kaolin clay – See label for instructions Pyrethrins – Can be applied on day of harvest, must be allowed to dry
