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Slugs on my tomatillos? #657058

Asked June 28, 2020, 9:17 AM EDT

Growing a tomatillo plant. And we just found these.... can you help me? What are they and what can I do about them? Thank you.

Genesee County Michigan

Expert Response

Those are the larvae of some type of beetle, possibly a tortoise beetle.  Several species in their family have the behavior of forming a protective coating over their backs made of their own excrement.  They should be susceptible to insecticidal soaps (if actually wet down by the spray) or common garden plant insecticides with the active ingredient called Carbaryl.
Erwin 'Duke' Elsner, Ph.D. Replied June 28, 2020, 9:09 PM EDT

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