Ladybird identification

[Glopaula]

I have a sage bush in my garden which is being eaten away by a shiny black ladybirds with very thin red or orange stripes. Can anyone tell me what these are. They are not interested in any other plants within their reach.

[Paul mabbott]

I suspect that these are not ladybirds but rosemary leaf beetles, Chrysolina americana (Chrysomelidae). Give that a Google!
I can probably think of alternatives ....

[Glopaula]

Paul

Thank you for your suggestion - that is exactly what they are.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Glopaula

............Thank you for your suggestion - that is exactly what they are.

No problem. As you've probably found, there's lots of advice about them on the internet. They're not such an overwhelming threat as other leaf beetles (lily beetle, for instance) and it's their larvae which cause most damage fairly early in the year. A lot of people have kept them under control by picking and squashing! Incidentally, best check your lavender, mint and other labiates, and rosemary, of course!