[Arid_gardener] RE: Bug ID

[Christine M. Bahto]

ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 07:59:30 -0700 (MST)
From: jjkkranch at juno.com
Kara Marx
85361

We have well over one hundred big bugs in our garden.  They are red headed
with a yellow body with black spots, and black stripes (the stripes are in a
cross shape dividing the back into four sections).  The bugs do appear to
have wings, but we have not noticed them flying.  They are eating our peas,
spinach, beets, and some were on our cucumbers.  We do not know what these
bugs are, I looked up several places on the internet and cannot find them.
We mulched our garden with straw before leaving out of town for almost a
week and came back to find these bugs devouring our garden.  We tried some
pesticide from Home Depot and it does not appear to be working.  Do you know
what these bugs are and how we can get rid of them?  Thank you.

ANSWER:

Kara,

I think you might have Iron Cross Blister Beetles (Tegrodera aloga) in your
backyard. They appear in huge populations this time of year and feed on
spring annuals. When disturbed they ooze blood from their leg joints that on
humans can cause blisters giving it it's common name. Their larve feed on
juvenile native bees. Not sure how to safely keep them from your veggies
other than to wait for them to finish mating and leave on their own!

Check out:
www.entmuseum.ucr.edu/bug_spotlight/posted%20Images-pages/27.htm
for a great photo and description.

Christine Bahto
Master Gardener, Maricopa County, U of A Cooperative Extension