Lately the ALE Lab blog has received some interesting insect photos from gardeners. The top picture was sent in by Sarah Vradenburg. It's a swamp milkweed beetle (Labidomera clvicollis). This leaf-feeding beetle looks a lot like a lady beetle, and can be found on milkweeds in the garden. The bottom image was sent by Sally Francis, its a Colorado potato beetle. This beetle is a major potato pest, feeding on plant leaves and stems as a larva and adult. If you find an "insect of mystery" send it to us at ladybeetles@osu.edu!
Although that potato beetle is a pest, it does look kinda pretty! (don't tell the potato farmers I said that!)
ReplyDelete~Michele