Allotments 4 All

Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Georgie on October 07, 2006, 18:26:36

Title: Insect ID please
Post by: Georgie on October 07, 2006, 18:26:36
This morning I noticed over 50 little black beetles huddled together on a leaf on my Ipomoea.  They looked like tiny ladybirds.  They were only a couple of mm long with shiny black 'shells' with numerous yellow/pink spots.  They were simply too tiny/too high up to get a decent photo, any idea what they might be?

G x
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: Georgie on October 08, 2006, 17:37:20
I've managed to get a picture today.  Sorry, it's not very good.  G x

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Beetles.jpg)
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: cambourne7 on October 08, 2006, 17:52:30
Hi

I think there flea beetles because of the size and leg position.

Google it and you should find a match.

c7
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: triffid on October 08, 2006, 17:58:22
Could they be one of our littler ladybird species? It's hard for me to guess at their size but there are dark ladybirds with pale spots.

Have a look here...

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm

(click on download the ladybird identification sheet)
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: Georgie on October 08, 2006, 18:09:29
Hmmm, C7, I can't find a match to flea beetle using Google - none seem to have spots. 

Thanks Triffid but none of those pictures match either.  As I said, these are tiny, only about 2mm long, with numerous distinctive yellow spots. 

G x
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: jennym on October 08, 2006, 21:23:57
14 spot ladybird, by the looks of it?
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/downloads/Ladybird%20descriptions_Info%20pack_NEW_v.5.pdf
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: Georgie on October 08, 2006, 21:51:56
Could well be, Jenny, but I still can't find a picture to match.  As I've said, these are black with yellow spots and so tiny.

G x
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: Barnowl on October 17, 2006, 13:40:46
I think they are the same as we had - not ladybirds: please see this thread.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,24801.0.html (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,24801.0.html)
Title: Re: Insect ID please
Post by: Georgie on October 17, 2006, 20:22:33
Spot on, Barnowl, thank you so much.  :D

G x