What kind of bug is this?

PunkRotten · Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:01 pm

Hi,

I have a Onion that has flowered. I noticed about 3-4 of these tiny bugs on it that look like ladybugs. But they are really small, and their coloration is a striped brown and white. That is about the best way I could describe them. Anyone know what they could be? I saw one the other day on something else but ignored it. Now today there is like 3-4 hanging out in the fluffy flower or the onion plant.

lorax · Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:56 pm

Do they look like [url=https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=potato%20beetle&gbv=2&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi]these little buggers?[/url] If so, they're potato beetles, which you should be squishing ASAP.

PunkRotten · Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:21 pm

They could be. I did not examine them that well and when I looked again they were gone. I am gonna try and get a pic maybe. I don't have any potatoes though. Do they attack other crops or are they specific?

applestar · Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:08 am

Eggplants. Colorado potato beetles LOVE eggplants.

PunkRotten · Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:55 am

If I remember correctly they look a little different from potato beetle. But I will try and get a pic if I see them. I don't have potatoes or eggplants. All I have out there right now is a few green onions that flowered, kale, parsley, few carrots, garlic, one tomato plant but in another location, one serrano pepper in another location, arugula, chives and that's about it.

rainbowgardener · Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:17 am

The potato beetle likes any plants in the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, eggplant AND tomatoes.

ruggr10 · Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:24 pm

They went after my giant cape gooseberries last year too!
Drove me crazy!

PunkRotten · Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:06 pm

Not sure if they are even potato beetles I remember they looked a little different. The markings weren't quit straight like that. I will try to get a pic soon.

PunkRotten · Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:08 am

I saw them again on another onion flower. There is a good amount of them but they do not seem to be damaging the plant at all. And I do not see them bothering other plants, I see them no other place. I tried to get a few pics but they are really tiny.

[img]https://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/punkrotten/942_2770.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/punkrotten/942_2775.jpg[/img]

PunkRotten · Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:57 pm

After some looking around I think they are called Varied Carpet beetles or something. What does everyone else think?