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The Golden Tortoise Beetle Attacks Morning Glories

6/22/2012

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PictureIlona Loser - Creative Commons
Late last night I noticed that my morning glory leaves had several round holes in them. A quick look revealed no insects, leaving me scratching my head - but it was late and I was too tired to investigate further.


This morning I decided to do a little investigating and discovered a golden beetle -shaped like a stink bug only much smaller - on the underside of a leaf. Glittering in the morning sun, he actually looked metallic. For a moment there, he had me wondering if I was in Eureka and  being bombarded by some alien species.


After the second cup of coffee, I shook the notion of alien invasions and went to work to discover exactly what this tiny creature was. It seems, that it a a golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) that feeds on members of the  Convolvulaceae family which includes morning glories, moon flowers, cardinal climbers and sweet potatoes. Not surprisingly this insect is often referred to as a "gold bug" and ranges from Florida north to Maine and west to about Texas and Iowa.


According to the University of Florida Extension, damage is usually mild and does not typically require intervention. I'm not so sure I agree. Morning glory leaves that look like Swiss cheese aren't exactly my idea of beauty.


For now, I will hand pick them and monitor damage closely - but if that doesn't do the trick I may need to resort to more proactive measures.


Pyrethrin, a natural botanical insecticide made from the Chrysanthemum plant, is reportedly effective in controlling the golden tortoise beetle, as well as a number of other offending insects - including the Colorado Potato Beetle. 


Gurney's Seed offers an insect spray called Pyola that is made from Pyrethrin and Canola Oil. I'm thinking maybe its time to order a bottle.


                                           Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!


Note: Pyrethrin may pose a threat to some dogs and may cause death in cats. Always keep pesticides - even natural ones - out of the reach of children and pets and observe all safety precautions on the label.

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Photo used under Creative Commons from MyArtfulLife
  • Home
  • Garden Thyme Blog
  • Themes
    • Butterfly Gardens
    • Moon Gardens
    • Sensory Gardens
    • All About Fairies
  • Flowers
    • Annual Flowers >
      • Alyssum
      • Cosmos
      • Geraniums
      • Marigolds
      • Morning Glories
      • Nasturtiums
      • Petunias >
        • Reviving Petunias
      • Snapdragons
      • Sunflowers
      • Sweet Peas
      • Zinnias
    • Perennial Flowers >
      • Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Hortensia’)
      • Lupines
      • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
    • Maine Wildflowers
  • Veggies
    • Warm Season Vegetables >
      • Beans >
        • Growing Beans
        • Growing Pole Beans
        • How to Make a Teepee Trellis
      • About Corn >
        • Growing Corn
        • What is Baby Corn, anyway?
        • Can you grow corn in containers?
      • Cucumbers >
        • Grow a cucumber in a bottle
        • Growing Pickling Cucumbers
        • Growing cucamelons (Mexican Gherkin)
        • Why do cucumbers blossom but fail to set fruit?
        • Trellising Cucumbers
        • Making Cucumber Relish
        • Powdery Mildew on Cucumbers
      • Melons
      • Peppers >
        • Growing Peppers
      • Squash >
        • Growing Zucchini
        • Spaghetti Squash
      • Tomatoes >
        • How to Harden Off Tomato Plants
        • How (and when) to Prune Tomatoes
        • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) for Tomatoes
        • Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes
        • Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets
        • 4 Best Tomatoes for Short Seasons - Early Tomatoes
        • 5 Early Maturing Tomatoes for Short Season Gardening
        • How to Ripen Green Tomatoes
        • How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home
        • Grow Your Own Amazing Pomato Plant - Tomatoes on the Top and Potatoes on the Bottom
    • Cool Season Vegetables >
      • Cole Crops
      • Greens >
        • How to Grow Spinach
        • How to Grow Malabar Spinach
        • How to Grow Swiss Chard
        • Harvesting and Cooking Beet Greens
        • How to Grow Microgreens
      • Onions & Garlic >
        • How to Grow Garlic
        • How to Grow Onions
      • Peas >
        • Growing Garden (shelling) Peas
        • Growing Sugar Snap Peas
      • Potatoes >
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Hay Bales
      • Root Crops >
        • Growing Beets
        • How to Grow Carrots
  • Herbs
    • Growing Basil
    • Growing Chives
    • Growing Lavender
    • Herbal Tea Garden
    • How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden
    • How to Grow Herbs in Sponges
    • Colonial Herb Garden - Classroom Project
    • Herbed Butter
    • Making Herbed Oils
  • Gardening Basics
    • Seed Starting Basics
    • Grafting Basics
    • Soil >
      • Starting a New Garden
      • How to Prepare Soil
      • How to Test Soil Drainage
      • What Type of Soil Do You Have
      • Soil Mix Recipe for Containers
      • How to Make Compost Tea
      • How to Use Mulch
      • Control Blister Beetles
  • Birds
    • Hummingbirds >
      • DIY Hummingbird Feeders from Recycled Bottles
      • Annuals for Hummingbird Gardens
      • Perennials for Hummingbird Gardens
    • About Birdseed
    • Choosing a Birdfeeder
  • Fiddleheads and Fairies
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • How to Marinate Roasted Vegetables