Blister Beetles in Tennessee?

tomatoguy · August 17, 2006

Well, I have had to cope with all kinds of pests in 37 years of gardening. Today, I found a new one. Two, actually, if you count the squirrel who was chomping down on ripe Sweet Quartz. The normal pests here are aphids, hornworms and stinkbugs. Now, I have a major infestation of blister beetles. Last November, I moved about 7 miles Southwest from my previous location. This is the southernmost point I have ever had a garden. I wonder if I have reached the northern extreme of their population since I have never seen them before. If anyone is familiar with their distribution, and if anything short of nuking them works, please post here. I prefer not to use chemicals but these dudes are voracious.

mater

August 17, 2006	#1
tomatoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockvale, TN Zone 7A Posts: 526	Blister Beetles in Tennessee? Well, I have had to cope with all kinds of pests in 37 years of gardening. Today, I found a new one. Two, actually, if you count the squirrel who was chomping down on ripe Sweet Quartz. The normal pests here are aphids, hornworms and stinkbugs. Now, I have a major infestation of blister beetles. Last November, I moved about 7 miles Southwest from my previous location. This is the southernmost point I have ever had a garden. I wonder if I have reached the northern extreme of their population since I have never seen them before. If anyone is familiar with their distribution, and if anything short of nuking them works, please post here. I prefer not to use chemicals but these dudes are voracious. mater