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Hairy black bug?

THALASSATHALASSA Posts: 13
in Problem solving

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PLEASE can anyone tell me what these hairy bugs are that are killing our large variegated privet hedge? They are 5-6mm long and are sucking the leaves which then die. Have tried washing up water solution on them with limited success. Many thanks.

Posts

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I'm not certain about the bugs...possibly ladybird larvae ???

    Sap suckers like scale insects came to mind from your description, but I've never seen spikey ones. 

    I think your hedge is euonymus though, not privet.

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    Hi THALASSA, I love this forum! I recently found out what ladybird larvae look like and I think that is what your hairy black bugs are. I don't know if they will kill privet but they are super good at eating aphids.

    http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/kidney-spot-ladybird

    Check this out.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    Well Kitty2, that makes sense as these ladybirds apparently like scale insects. Now I know the difference between privet and euonymous, brilliant.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,105

    The all powerful internet says Kidney spot Ladybird larvae, which specialize in eating scale insects, maybe you have some ( Euonymus Scale insects ) on your Euonymus.

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Nice link herbaceous ?.  Takes away my uncertainty about the lack of orange bits.  I'm sure you're right, they look like the empty shell casings of the new ladybirds.

    Good news for THALASSA image

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    Kitty 2 image I have learnt so much from this forum, I do enjoy following stuff up as well but I have to bookmark what I find as the memory ain't what it was. Just wish I had ladybirds breeding in my garden at that rate.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Me too herbaceous image. Everyone can recognise a ladybird from childhood, but I only learned what the larvae look like last summer......from a bug ID I posted on the forum.

    Still learning new stuff everyday image

  • THALASSATHALASSA Posts: 13

    WOW....BRILLIANT RESPONSES. THANKS so much.....good news indeed. And yes, of course you are right it is a euonymus. Will check to see what they are feeding on.....there are a lot of little white bits on the leaves and branches so probably scale insects as you suggest. Big thanks again everyone.image

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