Forum home› The potting shed

beetles eating nasturtiums

pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315
in The potting shed

image

 

This year I have noticed a lot of these little beetles in the garden. I noticed that they seem to be a sort of click beetle as they instantly disappear when touched. I saw them today in huge numbers and then saw that they were demolishing a nasturtium plant. They are about 2 millimetres long.

Does anybody know what they are?

 

Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,502
    Are they rosemary beetles?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315

    Noooooo. Much tinier. They look like miniscule humbugs.image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,502
    Saw the stripes and wondered. Hope it's not another exotic bug to worry about!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315

    Me too, I'm outgunned.image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Flea beetles I think:

    http://www.lovethegarden.com/advice/pests-diseases/flea-beetle

     

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,102

    Flea beetles indeed Bob - in fact, the Small Striped Flea Beetle

    http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/small-striped-flea-beetle


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 26,502
    Trouble with googling bugs is, You think you might have them all!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315

    I thank you one and all. Glad I'm not trying to grow anything that matters.image

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,502
    I believe some people grow nasturtiums to attract insects away from other plants. It seems to be working if it's true.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,315

    It's hard to say as I don't have a precious plant that I'm trying to protect them from. But they do seem to like a nice drop of nasturtium, it's true.

    I've only ever been aware of little black flea beetles in the past. These, with their go-faster white stripes, are a bit of an upmarket version.

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Sign In or Register to comment.