I have a Clerodendron which is in very good health, but it is being attacked by some leaf eating pests. I'm picking them off and destroying them as I find them, and so far there haven't been enough to cause much damage. One of these pests that I thought was a "Good Guy" turned out to be a pest. It looks almost like a lady bug, but larger, almost 10 mm long. After patiently observing it for a couple of minutes it moved to a leaf and started eating it. Knowing that Lady beetles are destroyers of aphids I was surprised and promptly removed it from my tree after taking a couple of photos. Can anyone I.D. this bug please.
Thank you in advance.
Ladybug Imposter?
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Raging Bull
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Re: Ladybug Imposter?
There is such a thing as an “Asian ladybug” which isn’t beneficial but this doesn’t really look like it. I’m no entomologist, interested to hear what this bug is though!
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KIRKY
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Re: Ladybug Imposter?
They are a curse Frank. When I first started growing cleros I had none, but a few years ago they turned up and are very determined. I keep native bees so I don't like spraying. In my garden they exclusively feast on cleros. When you start removing by hand they drop off the leaves and have a habit of hiding on the underside. I was told they are Dendrobium beetles but gyrza's ID looks spot on.
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terryb
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Re: Ladybug Imposter?
It would be an interesting find if it actually was this beetle. This genus is restricted to northern and eastern Australia. We certainly do have other leaf beetles from the same family here in SA
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Raging Bull
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Re: Ladybug Imposter?
Hi Beano, no, definitely not a ladybug. It was too big, more than twice the size of a normal ladybug and I watched it actually munching on a leaf.
