Hoplia Beetles

I got to thinking about the post I had on the hoplia beetles a few days ago--I forgot to show what they looked like, not just the damage they did. So, here is a picture of one. They are kind of funny when you knock them out of the flowers--they just lay where they fall and play dead! They give me plenty of time to step on them. The less of them means less eggs laid, which means less beetles next year. Or, at least, that's what I think! They are here just a few weeks, and damage the first flush of light-colored roses, iris', and a few other flowers. Then, they lay their eggs in the ground around the plants, so their offspring will have something to eat when they hatch next year.

Hoplia Beetles Have Arrived

This is how my roses are starting to look. The hoplia beetles are busy chewing holes in my flowers. The beetles aren't here long, but they ruin my first flush of roses, and some of my iris flowers.
This is a closer look at the same flower--you might need to click on the picture to make it bigger, so you can see the beetles better. These beetles are easy to knock off into some soapy water, just be careful as they just as easily fall to the ground!

Hoplia Beetles

A couple of days ago I found a hoplia beetle in my garage. Usually, they go after are the rose and iris blooms. My roses are just small buds, but my yellow and white iris are opening up. My blue iris blossoms are about to open. I haven't seen any beetles on the iris flowers---maybe they are waiting for the roses! When the hoplia beetles arrive, I will post some pictures.

Hoplia Beetles

The hoplia beetles can be seen damaging light colored flowers (specifically here-- my apricot-colored roses and light-colored irises) in gardens throughout the valley. They show up each year, when we have the first flush of roses, irises and other flowers blooming, but the beetles don't last long--usually a few weeks from April into May.
You can see that they do a lot of damage. The best way to get their populations down is to shake the beetles into a container of soapy water, where they will drown. If you continue to do this, then there will be fewer females that will lay eggs, which means less beetles to contend with next year.
The adults chew the light-colored flowers (but, not the leaves) of several different kinds of flowers. The females will lay their eggs in the soil around where they have been feeding. Only one hatching per year takes place, so if you can clip off the effected flowers, shake the beetles into soapy water, or tolerate some flower damage, then they will soon be gone. Insecticides are not very effective and will usually kill off the honey bees and other beneficial insects. For more information, see the University of California Integrated Pest Management website here.--Gard'n Judy

Bad Bugs . . .

Back in my April 30th post, I mentioned the Hoplia Beetle attacking light-colored flowers, especially roses. I thought I would show you what they look like (see below). According to UC Davis, the hoplia beetles particularly like "white, yellow, apricot, and pink roses. Early buds and flowers of roses may be destroyed by chewing. The beetles do not feed on leaves. Hoplia beetles also feed on the flowers of calla, citrus, irises, lilies, magnolia, olive, peonies, poppies, and strawberries, and on the young leaves and fruit of grapes, peaches, and almonds. . . They develop slowly, remaining in the larval or pupal stage throughout the winter. In early spring they complete development and adult beetles emerge from the soil." Hand-picking (or knocking them off of the flowers into a container of soapy water) will reduce their numbers.


Another bug that I am trying to eradicate from my garden is the Harlequin Bug (see picture below). They were all over my Brussels sprouts. They are a sucking bug and damage mature plants, but may kill new or small plants by sucking them to death. The young bugs are more black and orange, and as they molt (five or six times during their lives), the orange color turns more red.
They lay their egg cases on the leaves, which I have found on both the tops and undersides of leaves. I couldn't find a picture of the type of egg cases I have found and I have destroyed all that I have found in my garden, so no pictures there. The egg cases I have found are laid in a bundle of long, thin tubes that are placed on top of each other like cord-wood. They have been white, and a few were yellow. Depending on the weather, they can hatch anywhere from four to twenty-nine days, and can mature and mate from four to nine weeks. They can also live year-round in our gardens because of our mild weather. "Plants commonly attacked by the harlequin bug include such crucifers as horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, mustard, Brussels sprouts, turnip, kohlrabi and radish. In the absence of these favorite hosts, tomato, potato, eggplant, okra, bean, asparagus, beet, weeds, fruit trees and field crops may be eaten" (from the University of Florida). They like a lot of different vegetables, so it is imperative to control them when you see them.