name that bug

habitat_gardener · June 3, 2011

I'd look it up, but my books are all in boxes and I don't have wireless at home!

This one is on the stinging nettles, but I've seen a few all over the garden.

RadiantSeaRodent · June 3, 2011

Is it moving? Looks rather like a ladybug larvae pupating out to a ladybug beetle.

kwselke · June 3, 2011

It could be a Mexican Bean Beetle which looks a lot like Ladybugs, but are bad guys. There are 16 black spots on a Mexican Bean Beetle. My bug book says to positively identify before attempting control.

habitat_gardener · June 4, 2011

Yes! It is a lady beetle pupa, which is certainly welcome in my garden (as are the nettles).

I don't even control slugs and snails anymore, though when I find a bunch of them I do throw them over the fence. I bought a container of Sluggo (the iron phosphate bait that's not toxic to dogs or people) a few years ago and hardly used it last year.

June 3, 2011	#2
RadiantSeaRodent Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 16	Is it moving? Looks rather like a ladybug larvae pupating out to a ladybug beetle.

June 3, 2011	#3
kwselke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 172	It could be a Mexican Bean Beetle which looks a lot like Ladybugs, but are bad guys. There are 16 black spots on a Mexican Bean Beetle. My bug book says to positively identify before attempting control.

June 4, 2011	#4
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	Yes! It is a lady beetle pupa, which is certainly welcome in my garden (as are the nettles). I don't even control slugs and snails anymore, though when I find a bunch of them I do throw them over the fence. I bought a container of Sluggo (the iron phosphate bait that's not toxic to dogs or people) a few years ago and hardly used it last year.