An invasion has occurred just less than 1 mile north of the Ohio River in my garden. I had noticed earlier in the week a couple of enormous beetle like insects on the undersides of some of the upper leaves atop the trellis of pole beans. At first I likened them to birds roosting as I saw them first thing in the morning and they disappeared soon thereafter? It puzzled me.
At 8::00 this morning I stealthily slipped into the garden, past the bees on the cucumber trellis and the pepper plants, to find them again! I was armed with the camera a shoot a few less than noteworthy photos of them with the intent of using the photos to look online and identify the "buggers".
When I Google searched for "Southern Indiana Garden Pests" the most promising result I deemed was Purdue University's guide to identifying Home Owner's garden pests. The first attempt was in the category for beans. Not there. I looked on every page they have for every plant type and every insect and was not able to find him. AND IT IS NOT LIKE HE IS A LITTLE BUG? He looks to be just under an an inch long and about 3/8 inch wide. Perhaps I missed him or overlooked him, but I saw nothing this size that looked like my new neighbor.
If you know what this is and how to dissuade him from eating my garden please advise. I have emailed a photo to Purdue and asked for assistance but it is summer vacation there too? Not sure anyone is there to help.
I do think maybe I have seen this insect before but not commonly in my garden. At my age it could have been anyplace over a long span of time! Thank you friends and readers!
FOLLOW UP POST TO THIS BIG BUG MYSTERY. MY SISTER-IN-LAW PAM SUGGESTED I SEEK HELP FROM LARRY CAPLAN WHO WRITES FOR OUR LOCAL PAPER AND IS AFFILIATED WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY. HE HAS CONCLUDED AND I AGREE AFTER COMPARISON THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED A GIANT JUNE BUG.
It's name is Giant June Bug not, it is a giant June bug!! I am using Sevin at his suggestion and hope it will solve this infestation. Thanks go out to Pam and to Larry.
Your bug is what we in the south call a June bug. When I was little my mom would tie quilting thread on a leg and they would fly around like little helicopters!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!! Such interesting info! Thanks a lot. They are huge and that is what throws me. What I have always called a "June" bug is smaller and brown but I make no claim to knowing what I am talking about! These are certainly big enough to do what your Mother did with thread.
ReplyDeleteI use and have on hand dawn liquid dish soap and am off to try that cure. Thanks so very much. I hope something works. I have gone through 3 bottles of liquid sevin and they could care less at almost $10. @ bottle!