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large beetle on tomatoes #812010

Asked September 23, 2022, 7:50 PM EDT

This bug is new to me and was feeding on the fruit of my tomato plant. Mottled backside and fuzzy undersides and larger than the JB I have next to it in photo. The fruit was full of picnic bugs so maybe dining on them? I was able to pick them off. We have corn fields on 3 sides of garden in Nicollet MN.

Nicollet County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for the interesting question.

Unfortunately the resolution of your pic makes an exact ID difficult. I am leaning towards a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys). They are about 5/8 of an inch long, which is bigger than a Japanese Beetle. They are very common in Minnesota. They like to feed on ripe tomatoes. Take a look at the following if this might be a possibility:

https://www.minnpost.com/earth-journal/2018/04/meet-new-stink-bug-afflicting-crops-and-overrunning-homes-across-us/

https://extension.psu.edu/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

Looking forward to your response. Thanks for using our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 23, 2022, 9:10 PM EDT
Sorry- phone camera is poor. Nope, not a stink bug- not shield shaped- but have plenty of those around this year. In searches it is looking very much like a type of fuzzy June bug that has grubs in ground up to 3-4 years before pupating. It says it will sometimes feed on vegetables.?? I'll be checking soil well when pulling up plants.

On Sep 23, 2022 8:11 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied September 24, 2022, 12:52 PM EDT

Thanks for your response.

May/June bugs have some similarity to the beetle in your picture. However they are not usually active at this time of the year. See:

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/general-curiosity-insects/beetles/medium/may-june-beetles.html

https://bugguide.net/node/view/3477

I also considered a sap beetle. They are active this time of year and thoroughly enjoy tomatoes. They are smaller than a Japanese Beetle and this is why I did not seriously consider them. See if you can see a knob-like structure at the ends of their antennae. But, yet:

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/sap-beetles

Will be interested in any further thoughts you might have. Thanks for using our forum

An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 24, 2022, 3:26 PM EDT

Greetings again,

Another Master Gardener just contacted me with the suggestion that this might be a bumble flower beetle (Euphoria inda). It is slightly more than a 0.5 inch in size, which is larger than a Japanese Beetle. It also has some “fuzzy” parts to it which is consistent with your observation. See:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/2711

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2014/09-12/bumbleflower.html

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/bumble_flower_beetles_not_your_typical_grub

https://bugguide.net/node/view/634709

Persistence pays. Thanks for using our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 24, 2022, 3:46 PM EDT

Yes! I had asked at a local nursery and they had another report of this bug and that is what they said it was. The variety of insects is fascinating to me! Thanks for your help.

Take care,

cjs

 

From: askextension=<personal data hidden> <askextension=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2022 2:46 PM
To: acdsmith <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: large beetle on tomatoes (#0081940)

 

The Question Asker Replied September 26, 2022, 10:18 AM EDT

Glad to have been of assistance.  Thanks again for using our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 26, 2022, 11:40 AM EDT

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