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 :'(
I have never seen any of them, but from your description, it sounds like the larva of the lily beetle.
Just a suggestion.
valmarh
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
This is the little critter.....................................
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/mimi4555/spring06001.jpg)
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.
It sure looks like a weevil of some kind to me.
It looks like a vine weevil. You can use nematodes to control them, their lavae live underground where the nematodes attack them.
or it could be a varied carpet beetle, not sure they'd be eating your penstamons though :-\
http://www.uksafari.com/vcbeetle.htm (http://www.uksafari.com/vcbeetle.htm)