Beetle/ladybird for ID please.

balky · #1 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 09:41 PM

Found in West Sussex on our lavender.

UB4 gardener · #2 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 09:49 PM

Rosemary Beetle

Chris

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 09:49 PM

Evening Balky, and welcome to WAB!

That's Chrysolina americana, a common imported pest species.

Take care,

Jason

balky · #4 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 10:29 PM

Thanks for the replies. Hoping to get some more wildlife pics up.

Steve

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 08:03 AM

If it's eating lavender then it's a rosemary beetle for sure! They will actually eat many labiate plants including garden herbs. This appears to be quite a good year for it - has been relatively quiet for the last two/three years.

balky · #6 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 09:37 PM

Thanks Paul. This seems to be the only one at the moment so I will let it munch away. How much of a pest are they considered to be?

Steve

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 27-04-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balky

Thanks Paul. This seems to be the only one at the moment so I will let it munch away. How much of a pest are they considered to be?
Steve

The real damage is done by the larvae, as with all these leaf betles, which are soft, black, humped grubs active at this time of year but usually under the leaves or even down the stems. In years of abundance there can be thousands of them and they will do serious damage especially to young plants and seedlings. Most years they tend to rub along taking a few leaves here and there! Oddly, you will often see one bush looking very sad whereas neighbouring plants are unmolested.
I take a precautionary view and remove them!

Paul mabbott · #8 (**permalink**) 27-04-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balky

Thanks Paul. This seems to be the only one at the moment so I will let it munch away. How much of a pest are they considered to be?

Steve

PS: they are a Mediterranean species so prefer warmer conditions - they seem to do most harm in SE England, especially London. They'e not (to the best of my knowledge) established north of the English Midlands. Whereabouts are you roughly?

balky · #9 (**permalink**) 28-04-2011, 05:37 PM

I am West Sussex. Definitely SE country.

Rosie Plunkett · #10 (**permalink**) 18-06-2011, 10:27 PM

I live in The North West, Sale, Manchester .... On 16th June 2011 two black ladybirds arrived in the front garden and stayed on the lavender plants.....
Today 18th June 2011 there are at least 20.
As the lavender hasn't started to flower yet I am concerned the black ladybirds may not be welcomed guest.
Please can you advise me to the best action.... I do not like killing insects.
Thank you
R.P.