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ID lady bug #887032

Asked October 03, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

This bug destroyed my gardens while I was away for 10 days. What is it?

Harford County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like an adult Mexican Bean Beetle, and they are very common in area gardens where both adults and juveniles (larvae) can be chewing pests of legume crops. Since those plants don't generally require pollinator visits to produce a harvest, you can use barriers like row cover or insect mesh netting to deny the beetles access to the plants, and therefore avoid having to use a pesticide to control them. More information about this insect can be found in the page linked above.

Miri

Thank you,  Miri. I've seen the larvae but never knew what they were. Sevin concentrate should work.


On Thu, Oct 3, 2024, 12:11 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied October 04, 2024, 4:15 AM EDT
While Sevin could work, it's not the recommended option because it's a fairly harsh insecticide that harms a wide array of insects, beneficial or not. Active ingredients in Sevin have changed over the years, so while some used carbaryl, they now likely use zeta-cypermethrin, which is in the chemical class called pyrethroids. These are synthetic versions of a naturally-derived pesticide (pyrethrum) that last longer, thus potentially endangering beneficial insect predators and pollinators that encounter spray residues.

Lower-risk insecticide ingredients include spinosad, neem oil, or pyrethrum. Spinosad might be the most practical to try if adult beetles are prevalent, since they walk around faster and can fly away if disturbed, which makes using a contact type of insecticide like neem oil harder to have be effective, though it will be useful on larvae, since they need to be hit directly with the spray. Spinosad, in comparison, is absorbed into the leaf and chewing insects that ingest treated surfaces will be poisoned by the chemical, which was derived from naturally-occurring soil bacteria.

Whichever product you try, make sure the label includes instructions for use on edible plants; not all products using any of the ingredients above will be safe to use on vegetables. If you prefer to avoid pesticide use in general, you can hand-pick larvae or adult beetles off the plants fairly easily and toss them into a tray or bucket of soapy water to drown.

Miri

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