The huns are at the gate!

(No offense to any huns)

K, so the Birds and Rabbits thread probably put me in this mindset, but went to check on my seedlings and I found a group of tiny beetles gathering outside of my lettuce like little huns at the castle gate.

Couple of things: I'm new. Hi. Second, Pei Wei food containers make excellent seed starting green houses. Especially if you're planting Orange Peel Chicken. These soon-to-be-lettuce-wraps sprouted after 4 or 5 days, is that normal?

Here are the huns, what are they? Are they on the attack? Or just looking to trade goods?



Here is a hun patrol checking the perimeter for weak spots:



Odd thing is, I have my Fennel, carrots, and Mongolian Beef seedlings open and exposed, and they want nothing to do with it. Granted, they are about 6 inches away, which is probably 3 miles to a tiny hun...but still?

They almost look like a beetle but It is difficult for me to see... are they about the size of ladybugs? Are you seeing anything like aphids on or near your seedlings? Take a look at this site, bookmark it, it will be your friend. Let us know if you ID the wee creature. http://bugguide.net/node/view/179

to the forum, you've started out right, asking questions and sharing pictures, you are going to be just fine here. You're funny too!!! I've been growing things just long enough to no longer use nice words for garden pests. Good thing I'm too big and too old to have my mouth washed out with soap. Definately let us know if you get a name and info, let's hope this is a good bug.

Sorry I can't help at all. Also new here. But I had to tell you you're freaking hilarious! Thanks for the laughs. I want a whole 4x4 full of mongolian beef. Somehow PB&J no longer sounds like such a fancy lunch...

Thank you, everyone, for your warm welcome and encouraging replies.

@camprn: They are about the size of ladybugs, but where ladybugs usually seem lucid and inquisitive, these bugs seem like the ladybug's distant, uglier, more-inbred cousin. These guys really don't appear to have much going on upstairs. In fact, they may be closer to zombies than huns as they sort of just walk around hoping to bump into some sort of brain-like leaf of food.

I dumped them on the counter by opening lid the Patented PeiWei seed starter and the group that was building the trebuchet just stayed there, hoping I wouldn't notice them. Another landed on its back and just kept walking, not realizing he was upside-down.

I looked at the site, and the 14 spotted one looks pretty close, but I left my glasses at work and won't be counting any bug-size spots today. We'll just assume that they are 14 spotted zombie beetles.

I did not see any aphids, but from what I know, those suckers are tiny and green to boot. Not likely that I'd see them even if they were there.

The lettuce is old enough for me to open the lid, so I'll see how they do with that. If they start munching on my veggies, it's on like donkey-kong.

I'd hate to be those zombie beetles, huns, or whatever they are! Good luck!

Carpet beetles maybe? (Species Anthrenus verbasci - Varied Carpet Beetle)

See this: http://bugguide.net/node/view/95010

These zombie huns won't eat your produce...just your clothes! They like natural fibers.

Out with the bug!
pattipan

pattipan wrote:Carpet beetles maybe? (Species Anthrenus verbasci - Varied Carpet Beetle)

See this: http://bugguide.net/node/view/95010

These zombie huns won't eat your produce...just your clothes! They like natural fibers.

Out with the bug!
pattipan

Excellent find Pattipan!! Well done.

ooo, that one looks really close! Of course, it didn't say anything in the description about being dumb...or the walking dead...

You are funny!!!

So now that your zombie huns may be identified... now you get to try to figure out why carpet beetles would be eying your lettuce. You need a spy bug... maybe a mole cricket?

I am interested in the variety of Mongolian beef and orange peel chicken that you grow. How well do you think they would do in a Zone 3B garden? Do you think they would be hardy enough?

I am no help at identifying your bugs but I am pretty good with a gun should you need it.

Gwynn