Bug ID please

[Mimi]

Anyone any idea what this bug could be.  Its small and for all the world looks like a bird dropping.  Its got legs like a tiny spider and is mottled black and white.  Its chewing the bejaysus out of my penstamons.  Poor things are full of holes  :'(

[Mimi]

[valmarg]

I have never seen any of them, but from your description, it sounds like the larva of the lily beetle.

Just a suggestion.

valmarh

[saddad]

My first rule is, unless I can see it actually munching the plant leave it alone, if it is, then rule two applies pick and squish!
;D

[Mimi]

This is the little critter.....................................

I thought at first that it could be an immature vine weevil but it has wings under its carapase and I think that vine weevils dont but could be wrong.

[Sprout]

It sure looks like a weevil of some kind to me.

[Leonnie]

It looks like a vine weevil. You can use nematodes to control them, their lavae live underground where the nematodes attack them.

[Leonnie]

or it could be a varied carpet beetle, not sure they'd be eating your penstamons though :-\

http://www.uksafari.com/vcbeetle.htm