Small Ladybird-like Beetles

Angela Clarke2

I have a lot of beetles on my runner beans.  They vary in size, the largest being slightly smaller than a ladybird and the smallest about the size of a large pin head. The tops of them are half black and half black with white or yellow dots and dashes.  The undersides are brownish. There was one where the top half was partly orange and partly brown with yellow and white dots and dashes.

This is the first year I have seen them and it is also the first year that I have brown patches on many of my runner beans so I am wondering if they are connected.

I would be grateful if someone could tell me what they are, if they are pests and, if so, the best way to get rid of them.

Angela Clarke2

No, they don't look like any ladybird though they are a similar shape.  Also it seems as if they start small and grow larger whereas ladybirds hatch from larvae then remain the same size.

pansyface

I think we need a photo of these multisized, multicoloured beetles.

treehugger80

 did it look like this?

because that's a carpet beetle

pansyface

Lordy lordy. You wouldn't want to see one of those rummaging in your shagpile, would you?

Angela Clarke2

Yes. they look just like that. I've tried to send a photo of mine but haven't been able to. 

That's a fascinating site but I couldn't see those on it.  I presume they are some form of scarab beetle. Should I try to get rid of them or just leave them alone?

nutcutlet

I leave everything alone. I like to watch them

Angela Clarke2

Thanks, Jo, that's really interesting, I hadn't realised that they were nymphs.  I haven't seen those before but have seen one or two of the adults on the beans for several years and wondered what they were.

I'll definitely leave them alone and keep a look out for the various stages.

Mel M

Hi Angela.  I to have brown patches on my beans this year, far more than previous years. The culprits are snails, small ones mainly, with the occasional big one hanging around. Have a close look and you will see them hidden under leaves etc. Do with them what you will.

hellywelly2

 Hi, I live in North Kent. This is the second of these bugs this week.

The first arrived in the ktchen after I bought the washing in I put it back outside on the front garden, the second was on a sheet on the washing line when I went to bring it it in at 5pm the following day in the back garden!

Will they eat my lemons, daphne, olive etc or do they feed on small bugs?

Thanks, 

pansyface

Hello hellywelly2, It's generally better if you start a new thread so that people see your problem and don't think "Oh, I've read that thread" and ignore it. Anyway, your beetle is a rosemary beetle. It eats rosemary plants.