Some days, the bugs in the garden are waspy or tiny or ant-y or eggy. But one day this past week, they were shiny.
First, I spotted this green beetle near the zucchini, but by the time I’d gone in to get my camera, he was long gone.
The next day, though, he was running along the sidewalk when I went to take out the trash. I had to chase him through the grass and over to the shed on the property line between our house and George’s, but I got him.
I wish I’d managed to catch him out in the direct sunlight, because then it would be even clearer how metallic he is. Any ideas on what he might be?
Later, over by the Big Boy pepper plants, this fly caught my eye. All flies are shiny, but this one struck me as particularly iridescent.
On Friday, I wandered out to the garden briefly, under the auspices of checking the temperatures outside, and nearly kicked myself when I noticed this bizarrely striped bug and didn’t have my camera. Rule Number One: Always carry the camera to the garden. It’s not like it’s heavy.
Luckily, by the time I ran back inside and returned, he was still hanging out at the pepper plants. This guy’s not technically shiny, but with a coat of many colors like this, he deserves entrance to the party. Has anyone seen this bug before? Any idea what it is?
I know they might not all bring happiness and health to our plants, but a part of me stands in support of disco bugs and Shiny Bug Day.
on Jun 26th, 2006 at 12:32 am
The third bug is a red-banded leafhopper, Graphocephala coccinea. They’re common here in Brooklyn.
on Jun 26th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Xris, thanks for the information! I figure now that I’ve seen one, I’ll see tons of them, even though I’ve never seen one before. Are they pest-ish? Should I be trying to remove them if I see them?
Genie
on Jun 26th, 2006 at 7:56 am
The green beetle is very pretty, but I’m suspicious of all beetles except for fireflies. I see a lot of metallic green flies in my garden and the seem to be harmless. The leafhoppers I think are pesty, but a trip to google should clear that up.
on Jun 26th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Uh-oh…What’s That Bug reports the following on the Graphocephala coccinea: “They feed on the juices of weeds and cultivated plants. When they feed, they inject saliva into the plant which inhibits the sap from running, eventually resulting in wilting and leaf drop.”
I wonder if that’s what’s happening to our tomato plant?
Genie
on Jul 1st, 2006 at 9:19 am
hmmm….your third bug is my third bug so it’s good to know what it is and what to do with it!
ps. i like your website. your writing style is witty and makes me laugh.
on Jul 1st, 2006 at 9:20 am
i don’t know why the wacky writing in my last comment. i tried to post a link to my site so you could see the bugs. oh well!
on Jul 1st, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Rachelle — I went and checked out your bug — yes, same as mine! Hope that info helps you out. I’m sorry to hear he’s not garden-friendly, because he really is cool-looking. Thanks for visiting and for your sweet comments!
on Nov 22nd, 2006 at 4:38 pm
In regards to the firt insect I believe it is called the Ground Beetle or a more technical name is Carabid. They do come in forms of dark colors and also shiny or metalic green, but you will mostly find them to be dark brown or black.
on Nov 23rd, 2006 at 9:06 am
Katey, thanks for the information — that’s interesting. I’m glad I saw the shiny kind…they’re much fancier. :-)
on Jul 27th, 2008 at 9:59 am
So these shiny green beattles can zap the jucies from my tomato leaves? I caught a couple of them mating on my tomato plants today. I never thought they would bother the plants.
on Jul 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Farmer Dave, I suggest picking them off the plants when you see them.
on May 26th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Just to avoid confusion….the shiny green ground beetle is one of a large family of very beneficial insects. The other red-striped one is the plant juice sucking one….I almost got the wrong impression about the shiny green ground beetle from Farmer Dave’s comment. I am now sad about the dead one I found in a bucket of water today.
on May 28th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Ingrid, oh — thanks for the information!