Insect with Eggs ID

**Lee** · June 30, 2013

Any idea what this insect is? Found them on the
edge of a tomato leaf while hunting for worms.
It looks as if they've recently hatched.

Thanks,

Lee

tjg911 · June 30, 2013

i don't know but when i enlarged them as much as possible they look like tortoise shell beetles to me but i have never seen a tsb nymph so i am not sure. check out these pictures. btw, tsb are not good, kill them, they suck plant juices and may (?) spread disease. all i know is tsb get crushed here.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tort...w=1130&bih=589

tom

livinonfaith · June 30, 2013

What a coincidence! I found some tortoise shell beetle larvae on my Black Cherry today. They had eaten holes in a bunch of the bottom leaves, so they had to go!

I don't think the ones Lee has are those, though. The best way to tell is to go and look at one. If it is a tortoise shell larvae, the little "shield" (which is actually the larvae's fecal matter) can be lifted up and is attached to it's rear end. The little animal underneath is kind of flat and larvae-like with a "fringey" edge. There are a few good pictures in the link above. (But many of them show adults and some of them appear to be baby shield bugs.)

I do wonder if it could be some sort of shield bug. https://www.google.com/search?q=shie...w=1024&bih=638

Here is a pic of just hatched Green stink bugs. http://www.ent.iastate.edu/soybeaninsects/node/145

And another nasty Stink bug http://pestcontrolcenter.com/blog/?p=1174

The eggs certainly seem similar. If so, it seems that a lot of those can be pretty nasty to plants.

Nd2020 · June 30, 2013

Had these on my tomato plants as well. Squashed them immediately. Thanks for posting this.

livinonfaith · June 30, 2013

Just want to say, I honestly don't know that all shield bugs are harmful or even if this is truly a shield bug.

I certainly don't want to recommend that anyone squash anything without knowing more or having a better picture to use for identification.

Some of bugs can be beneficial, too, so I'm only trying to help narrow down the choices so that Lee can really compare the various ones and make a good decision as to how to treat it.

(And the reason that I'm backtracking is that I once saw a picture of a larvae that is very destructive and confused it with the larvae of the ladybug. Big difference! One you destroy on sight and one you pray for and nurture. Thankfully, I figured it out before I destroyed all of the ladybug population in my yard!)

ginger2778 · June 30, 2013

I think Livinonfaith hit the ail on the head. Stinkbug s are supposed to be an epidemic in the US this year. Many types. These look like a cousin to yours.

http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/80824916

Marsha

**Lee** · July 1, 2013

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.
I was leaning more towards the "bad bug" type and went ahead and
exterminated them. Probably, as most had said, some kind of beetle.
I have learned in the past what the beneficial bugs look like at their various life stage, so as to not harm them.

So far this year I've seen lady bugs (and their larvae), toad, and a medium sized praying mantis. The later almost got run over by the lawn mower the other day. However, I relocated him to a central part of the garden for him to do his job!

Again, thanks all!

Lee

June 30, 2013	#2
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i don't know but when i enlarged them as much as possible they look like tortoise shell beetles to me but i have never seen a tsb nymph so i am not sure. check out these pictures. btw, tsb are not good, kill them, they suck plant juices and may (?) spread disease. all i know is tsb get crushed here. https://www.google.com/search?q=tort...w=1130&bih=589 tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

June 30, 2013	#3
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	What a coincidence! I found some tortoise shell beetle larvae on my Black Cherry today. They had eaten holes in a bunch of the bottom leaves, so they had to go! I don't think the ones Lee has are those, though. The best way to tell is to go and look at one. If it is a tortoise shell larvae, the little "shield" (which is actually the larvae's fecal matter) can be lifted up and is attached to it's rear end. The little animal underneath is kind of flat and larvae-like with a "fringey" edge. There are a few good pictures in the link above. (But many of them show adults and some of them appear to be baby shield bugs.) I do wonder if it could be some sort of shield bug. https://www.google.com/search?q=shie...w=1024&bih=638 Here is a pic of just hatched Green stink bugs. http://www.ent.iastate.edu/soybeaninsects/node/145 And another nasty Stink bug http://pestcontrolcenter.com/blog/?p=1174 The eggs certainly seem similar. If so, it seems that a lot of those can be pretty nasty to plants.

June 30, 2013	#4
Nd2020 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Georgia Posts: 8	Had these on my tomato plants as well. Squashed them immediately. Thanks for posting this.

June 30, 2013	#6
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	I think Livinonfaith hit the ail on the head. Stinkbug s are supposed to be an epidemic in the US this year. Many types. These look like a cousin to yours. http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/80824916 Marsha

July 1, 2013	#7
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I was leaning more towards the "bad bug" type and went ahead and exterminated them. Probably, as most had said, some kind of beetle. I have learned in the past what the beneficial bugs look like at their various life stage, so as to not harm them. So far this year I've seen lady bugs (and their larvae), toad, and a medium sized praying mantis. The later almost got run over by the lawn mower the other day. However, I relocated him to a central part of the garden for him to do his job! Again, thanks all! Lee