Tortoise Beetle

roherb · March 14, 2013

Just wanting to know more about this beetle. I picked a few off my plants last year. I think they are really cool looking; however they where eating my plants.

Has anyone else had any dealings with these guys. Are they a threat to my tomato plants like the horn worm is? I'd like to learn more about this little bug.

**carolyn137** · March 14, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by roherb

Just wanting to know more about this beetle. I picked a few off my plants last year. I think they are really cool looking; however they where eating my plants.

Has anyone else had any dealings with these guys. Are they a threat to my tomato plants like the horn worm is? I'd like to learn more about this little bug.

http://tomatoville.com/search.php?searchid=1282073

Lots of links by doing a search for folks who have had problems with them, and yes, here in NYS as well.

A few years back a good friend of mine found some in the W part of the state and reported it b'c apparently they haven't been all that common in the NE before.

Some of those threads above have links to more info about these critters and I suppose a Google search would do the same.

Carolyn

Mashman · May 31, 2013

Rrrrrrrrrrrr........ found them eating my tomato plants this am. Not good.

Michael

kath · May 31, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mashman

Rrrrrrrrrrrr........ found them eating my tomato plants this am. Not good.

Michael

No, but at least they're pretty easy to catch & squish.

tnkrer · May 31, 2013

I found one on one of my tomato plants and flicked it off. I haven't seen any others .. Will need to check if they are hiding on the underside .. but I dont see any holes in leaves. (Nearby coleus has bunch of holes in the leaves, may be they like coleus better or may be winter moth caterpillars are eating those coleus leaves)

Mashman · May 31, 2013

"Add ladybugs to your tomato plants as a guard against intruding tortoise beetles. Ladybugs are particularly effective against the larvae because they act as predators to these chewing insects"

Any truth to this suggestion for controlling tortoise beetles?

Michael

tjg911 · May 31, 2013

when i grew potatoes back about 5-6 years ago i used to get these occasionally on the potato plants. i never have seen them on anything else. i looked them up in my bug book back then and they are pests. i can't recall what the problem is with them, i think they suck the juices and probably spread disease, but i'd look at the plants and crush them.

tom

kath · May 31, 2013

Tortoise beetles show up on my potatoes first and then will visit tomatoes, beans, etc. later on. They definitely chew the leaves, too.

March 14, 2013	#1
roherb Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Salem, NY Posts: 28	Tortoise Beetle Just wanting to know more about this beetle. I picked a few off my plants last year. I think they are really cool looking; however they where eating my plants. Has anyone else had any dealings with these guys. Are they a threat to my tomato plants like the horn worm is? I'd like to learn more about this little bug.

May 31, 2013	#7
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	when i grew potatoes back about 5-6 years ago i used to get these occasionally on the potato plants. i never have seen them on anything else. i looked them up in my bug book back then and they are pests. i can't recall what the problem is with them, i think they suck the juices and probably spread disease, but i'd look at the plants and crush them. 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

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May 31, 2013	#3
Mashman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MA Posts: 158	Rrrrrrrrrrrr........ found them eating my tomato plants this am. Not good. Michael

May 31, 2013	#5
tnkrer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: MA 6a/b Posts: 352	I found one on one of my tomato plants and flicked it off. I haven't seen any others .. Will need to check if they are hiding on the underside .. but I dont see any holes in leaves. (Nearby coleus has bunch of holes in the leaves, may be they like coleus better or may be winter moth caterpillars are eating those coleus leaves)

May 31, 2013	#8
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Tortoise beetles show up on my potatoes first and then will visit tomatoes, beans, etc. later on. They definitely chew the leaves, too.