Bug Identification...

scooter 6/3/2011, 6:57 pm

What are these things on my carrots?
Bug Identification... Photo_11

Closest thing I can find on the web was a Black Swallowtail caterpillar, but these guys are tiny... maybe only 1/2" long...

And what about this guy on my beans?
Bug Identification... Photo_12

Think its a bean leaf beetle, especially with all the holes... and how about those brown edges, are those because of the beetle or do I have other issues here? I have 3 varieties of beans in 4 squares - Blue Lake Bush, Frijol Pinto Pole, and Pole Cowbeans - they all pretty much look the same - holes, browning, and all.... Sad

Thanks for any help!

**camprn** 6/3/2011, 7:34 pm

The caterpillars may be very young. I have no idea what they are. Nancy may know. Bestest way to ID them is collect a specimen and call your County Coop extension service. There is probably an entomologist they have on staff in the state that they will send it to; not sure if there's a fee. Are the wee critters eating the carrot tops?
I bet they will turn into a lovely flying something, LOL. Wink

scooter 6/3/2011, 8:34 pm

Thanks for the extension suggestion - we have a nice one not too far from here that is associated with OSU. They have a huge garden area that I have just been waiting for an excuse to go back to.

Something has been eating the carrot tops, but only a small bit, you can kind of see the damage in the photo. They are nantes carrots - wasn't even going to grow carrots this year, but figured what the hey and planted them for the forum carrot thing.

So many bugs in such a small garden - I've got aphids, teeny tiny grasshoppers, cabbage worms, bean leaf beetles, and whatever those guys are. And a few spiders - I hate spiders but I am leaving them alone. Not a ladybug or mantis in sight... might have to buy some...

pattipan 6/3/2011, 9:03 pm

I think the caterpillar on your carrot leaves is the young larva (first instar) of either the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly or the Black swallowtail. It's supposed to mimic a bird dropping! Probably the latter since it has a preference for the parsley/carrot family.

Tiger Swallowtail:
http://www.johnson.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=298

Black Swallowtail
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/lifecycleofblsw

I learned something new looking this up -- thanks!
pattipan

scooter 6/4/2011, 6:26 pm

Thanks so much! I was just looking at them and they are almost double in size today... yet the carrot looks like it is growing faster than it is being munched... so I will probably leave these guys alone, only a few and if they make it all the way to being butterflies they are so cool looking Very Happy

Just hope they leave a few carrots for me!

scooter 6/9/2011, 11:14 am

Just to follow up... they are definitely Black Swallowtail caterpillars... they are now in their last stage (bright green w/ black and yellow markings), huge (in comparison to first sighting... these guys are over 1" long and as big around as a pencil), and feasting on the parsley after we evicted them from the carrots... we have more than enough parsley plants, but they ate 2 carrots down to nubs

**camprn** 6/9/2011, 11:30 am

Your carrots and parsley will put out more foliage soon. All is well. Very Happy

nancy 6/9/2011, 3:22 pm

Have they stuck up their orange "horns" for you yet? This makes me giggle! The caterpillar's chrysalis looks like dead leaves, so use care in pruning. Mine overwintered and eclosed this spring. Swallowtails are so awesome!! I'm growing fennel just for them. They will eat anything in the dill family.

I saw tons of baby grasshoppers last night and then found a toad in my lettuce. Cool

scooter 6/9/2011, 4:25 pm

Yes they have... it is amusing. They usually do it when I am out watering, but the wife likes to brush the leaves to make em do it Cool

Do they usually stay around the plant they fed on to cocoon or do they move to woodier vegetation?

shannon1 6/10/2011, 1:24 am

Scooter I planted just for them. I think they are so cool. I have just one left I think wasps got the rest. I will try and get a pic tomorrow morning.

nancy 6/10/2011, 9:17 am

I'm not 100% sure about where they pupate. I doubt it is on their host plant. I brought them into the house and let them make their chrysalises inside. They overwintered in my mom's garage. I don't have any experience with spring cats, so I'm not really sure. I haven't seen one yet this year, so please keep us posted.

shannon1 6/11/2011, 1:21 am

nancy wrote:I'm not 100% sure about where they pupate. I doubt it is on their host plant. I brought them into the house and let them make their chrysalises inside. They overwintered in my mom's garage. I don't have any experience with spring cats, so I'm not really sure. I haven't seen one yet this year, so please keep us posted.

I will, Took a pic this morning but the little one is so used to me being around I couldn't get it to put it's "horns" up. Not even after I gave it a little squeeze.LOL I am not sure when I will be able to post the pics. Sad

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