Can Anyone Identify this bug?

LukeCoolHands · May 16, 2012

Well I think it's a bug. It was on a tomato plant and later on my pepper plant. I have no idea what it is. Looks like a mini spaceship. Flat on the bottom, with a top similar to a turtle shell.

I didn't want to kill it until I knew what it was. I already killed several hoverfly larvae recently because they looked like little worms. I could have really used their help with all the aphids. I'm so nubs. My 2nd year gardening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLFB...ature=youtu.be

ginger2778 · May 16, 2012

Looks alot like scale to me. Killed with Neem or insecticidal soap easily, (also Malathion, but that's not organic) No need to do anything if it's only an isolated few.

ginger2778 · May 16, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeCoolHands

Well I think it's a bug. It was on a tomato plant and later on my pepper plant. I have no idea what it is. Looks like a mini spaceship. Flat on the bottom, with a top similar to a turtle shell.

I didn't want to kill it until I knew what it was. I already killed several hoverfly larvae recently because they looked like little worms. I could have really used their help with all the aphids. I'm so nubs. My 2nd year gardening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLFB...ature=youtu.be

Aphids are also killed easily by the soaps, neem, malathion.

LukeCoolHands · May 16, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Looks alot like scale to me. Killed with Neem or insecticidal soap easily, (also Malathion, but that's not organic) No need to do anything if it's only an isolated few.

Thanks so much for the info. I've only seen the one so I'll monitor.

tjg911 · May 16, 2012

i do know what it is but i can't recall the name! i looked in my bug field guide but did not see it. tortoise shell or tortoise shell scale or tortoise beetle, i just can't remember. they are not good bugs and i kill them when i see them by crushing them.

tom

kath · May 16, 2012

Yikes! Found the first two tortoise beetles of the year today- one one a pepper and one on a potato plant. As if that wasn't bad enough, I also saw and killed the first 6 cucumber beetles of the year; saw leafhoppers on the potatoes as well as evidence of hopper burn already; realized the strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. are full of whiteflies as well as the aphids which have been here for weeks; saw the flea beetle population blossom since I saw the first ones just before the rain started a couple days ago. Yesterday I found a cutworm inside a cabbage head- is that possible? The cabbage butterflies are doing their thing so the brassicas have been sprayed with bt when the weather has allowed for the past couple of weeks, and we also had a plague of baby grasshoppers hatch a few weeks ago for the first time, so I ordered and sprinkled a whole can of Semaspore around- but there are still quite a few around. The slugs and snails have been particularly busy this year too with the recent rains. I only saw 4 ladybugs today- the most so far. Guess it won't be long before I spot the first potato beetle, hornworm, fig beetle, Japanese beetle, squash vine borer, earwig, baby stinkbugs...I think we're going to pay for the mild winter.

Does everyone else have so many insects? We live in a rural area with nearby fields and lots of woods pretty close to a river. There are so many birds around and they're always perched on the garden fence or on the posts inside, hunting. Sometimes I think I should just stay in the house and let them do their thing instead of spending hours squishing and trying to catch all these bugs.

Sorry about the rant, Luke- but I feel a little better.

I know what you mean about finding out later that you've been squashing the good guys.

I managed to do that with ladybug eggs.

CrazyAboutOrchids · May 17, 2012

Tortoise Beetle - they seem to love tomatoes. They do fly. I capture them in zip baggies and squish them. Neem has never done much to them at my house.

attml · May 17, 2012

Looks like the kind that sticks to the bottom of your shoe!

Never seen that one?

LukeCoolHands · May 17, 2012

Thanks for all the replies. At least I know it's safe to squish.

Kath - I'm right with you. I guess it won't be long before I see the first cuke beetles and squash bugs of the season. It seems those have caused the most problems for me since I also grow sqush and cukes. Nothing seems to be able to bother the tomatoes and peppers though (knock on wood).

Kazfam · May 17, 2012

Clavate Tortoise Beetle - Leaf Beetle (Family Chrysomelidae)

Same family as potato beetle, flea beetle, cucumber beetle.

Central and Eastern North Amnerica
Adults are active during summer in gardens, parks, meadows, and along roadsides.
Feed on foliage of morning glories, including ornamental sweet potato. Females lay eggs on leaves. Hungry larvae consume all but the leaf veins; when mature the larvae drop to the ground to pupate in leaf litter.

(Source: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America)

I would remove it and keep an eye out for more. Perhaps apply Neem Oil or DE.

kath · May 17, 2012

At least the tortoise beetles don't appear to be "fast eaters"- it took research for me to figure out it was a "bad guy" when I first found one. They also stay still enough for me to catch and squish- a trait I admire in a bad guy.

ginger2778 · May 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

Yikes! Found the first two tortoise beetles of the year today- one one a pepper and one on a potato plant. As if that wasn't bad enough, I also saw and killed the first 6 cucumber beetles of the year; saw leafhoppers on the potatoes as well as evidence of hopper burn already; realized the strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. are full of whiteflies as well as the aphids which have been here for weeks; saw the flea beetle population blossom since I saw the first ones just before the rain started a couple days ago. Yesterday I found a cutworm inside a cabbage head- is that possible? The cabbage butterflies are doing their thing so the brassicas have been sprayed with bt when the weather has allowed for the past couple of weeks, and we also had a plague of baby grasshoppers hatch a few weeks ago for the first time, so I ordered and sprinkled a whole can of Semaspore around- but there are still quite a few around. The slugs and snails have been particularly busy this year too with the recent rains. I only saw 4 ladybugs today- the most so far. Guess it won't be long before I spot the first potato beetle, hornworm, fig beetle, Japanese beetle, squash vine borer, earwig, baby stinkbugs...I think we're going to pay for the mild winter.

Does everyone else have so many insects? We live in a rural area with nearby fields and lots of woods pretty close to a river. There are so many birds around and they're always perched on the garden fence or on the posts inside, hunting. Sometimes I think I should just stay in the house and let them do their thing instead of spending hours squishing and trying to catch all these bugs.

Sorry about the rant, Luke- but I feel a little better.

I know what you mean about finding out later that you've been squashing the good guys.

I managed to do that with ladybug eggs.

I thought our bug population was "through the roof". Now you have whiteflies there too? GAWD

rsg2001 · May 17, 2012

I'm just starting to plant.... most of my containers are planted and we just tilled the small in-the-ground plot today so hopefully will make a dent by the time the weekend is out. In terms of bugs the main observation I see is that the gnats are plentiful, and we have seen slugs since March here and there on the deck. We had to call the bug company to deal with the carpenter ants, which for the moment seem under control. I can't wait to see what the tomatoes are going to bring out of the woodwork. But I've never seen anything like a tortoise bug in this area... WHOOO.

Tracydr · May 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazfam

Clavate Tortoise Beetle - Leaf Beetle (Family Chrysomelidae)

Same family as potato beetle, flea beetle, cucumber beetle.

Central and Eastern North Amnerica
Adults are active during summer in gardens, parks, meadows, and along roadsides.
Feed on foliage of morning glories, including ornamental sweet potato. Females lay eggs on leaves. Hungry larvae consume all but the leaf veins; when mature the larvae drop to the ground to pupate in leaf litter.

(Source: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America)

I would remove it and keep an eye out for more. Perhaps apply Neem Oil or DE.

I'm betting the DE would work. It worked for me on squash bug larva last year. It will also help with the aphids.

May 16, 2012	#1
LukeCoolHands Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Zone 6B Olney, Maryland Posts: 5	Can Anyone Identify this bug? Well I think it's a bug. It was on a tomato plant and later on my pepper plant. I have no idea what it is. Looks like a mini spaceship. Flat on the bottom, with a top similar to a turtle shell. I didn't want to kill it until I knew what it was. I already killed several hoverfly larvae recently because they looked like little worms. I could have really used their help with all the aphids. I'm so nubs. My 2nd year gardening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLFB...ature=youtu.be

May 16, 2012	#5
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i do know what it is but i can't recall the name! i looked in my bug field guide but did not see it. tortoise shell or tortoise shell scale or tortoise beetle, i just can't remember. they are not good bugs and i kill them when i see them by crushing 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

May 16, 2012	#6
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Tortoise Beetles, Cucumber Beetles, Whiteflies...oh my! Yikes! Found the first two tortoise beetles of the year today- one one a pepper and one on a potato plant. As if that wasn't bad enough, I also saw and killed the first 6 cucumber beetles of the year; saw leafhoppers on the potatoes as well as evidence of hopper burn already; realized the strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. are full of whiteflies as well as the aphids which have been here for weeks; saw the flea beetle population blossom since I saw the first ones just before the rain started a couple days ago. Yesterday I found a cutworm inside a cabbage head- is that possible? The cabbage butterflies are doing their thing so the brassicas have been sprayed with bt when the weather has allowed for the past couple of weeks, and we also had a plague of baby grasshoppers hatch a few weeks ago for the first time, so I ordered and sprinkled a whole can of Semaspore around- but there are still quite a few around. The slugs and snails have been particularly busy this year too with the recent rains. I only saw 4 ladybugs today- the most so far. Guess it won't be long before I spot the first potato beetle, hornworm, fig beetle, Japanese beetle, squash vine borer, earwig, baby stinkbugs...I think we're going to pay for the mild winter. Does everyone else have so many insects? We live in a rural area with nearby fields and lots of woods pretty close to a river. There are so many birds around and they're always perched on the garden fence or on the posts inside, hunting. Sometimes I think I should just stay in the house and let them do their thing instead of spending hours squishing and trying to catch all these bugs. Sorry about the rant, Luke- but I feel a little better. I know what you mean about finding out later that you've been squashing the good guys. I managed to do that with ladybug eggs.

May 16, 2012	#2
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Looks alot like scale to me. Killed with Neem or insecticidal soap easily, (also Malathion, but that's not organic) No need to do anything if it's only an isolated few.

May 17, 2012	#7
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 155	Tortoise Beetle - they seem to love tomatoes. They do fly. I capture them in zip baggies and squish them. Neem has never done much to them at my house.

May 17, 2012	#8
attml Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 222	Looks like the kind that sticks to the bottom of your shoe! Never seen that one?

May 17, 2012	#10
Kazfam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 113	Clavate Tortoise Beetle - Leaf Beetle (Family Chrysomelidae) Same family as potato beetle, flea beetle, cucumber beetle. Central and Eastern North Amnerica Adults are active during summer in gardens, parks, meadows, and along roadsides. Feed on foliage of morning glories, including ornamental sweet potato. Females lay eggs on leaves. Hungry larvae consume all but the leaf veins; when mature the larvae drop to the ground to pupate in leaf litter. (Source: Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America) I would remove it and keep an eye out for more. Perhaps apply Neem Oil or DE.

May 17, 2012	#13
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	I'm just starting to plant.... most of my containers are planted and we just tilled the small in-the-ground plot today so hopefully will make a dent by the time the weekend is out. In terms of bugs the main observation I see is that the gnats are plentiful, and we have seen slugs since March here and there on the deck. We had to call the bug company to deal with the carpenter ants, which for the moment seem under control. I can't wait to see what the tomatoes are going to bring out of the woodwork. But I've never seen anything like a tortoise bug in this area... WHOOO.