Beetle eating bee balm - Ask Extension
I live in Minneapolis. We have bee balm growing in a few places in our yard. Its been there for over 5 years. This year, the largest patch is not lo...
Knowledgebase
Beetle eating bee balm #870189
Asked May 26, 2024, 5:52 PM EDT
I live in Minneapolis. We have bee balm growing in a few places in our yard. Its been there for over 5 years. This year, the largest patch is not looking good at the top of each plan (see picture). I see several of these beetles in this patch (see picture). What is it? Do I need to be concerned about the bee balm and/or other plants? If so, how do I address it?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
It looks like you have 4-lined plant bugs. Looking at the photos they appear to be in the late nymph stage. They are now prevalent in Minnesota.
In your bee balm they will do a lot of cosmetic damage but probably not kill your plants. You can spray them with an insecticidal soap to cut down the numbers. now is a good time to do this as the spray is more effective on nymphs than adults.
Be sure to do garden clean-up in the fall. That means cutting down the dried stalks and removing them to remove any eggs that have been laid over the summer. This will help for next year.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/four-lined-plant-bugs
