Just cut some roses for my vase and discovered some scary black beetles chilling out in the blooms. Any idea what they are, are they harmful and should I be zapping them - they look like something out of a Jurassic Park film!!!
Hello
Do have a picture of the beetles?? the only beetle i know that attacks roses is the japanese beetle and they look like see link
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2upKExI.3IASjVWBQx./SIG=128mbscjd/EXP=1213037097/**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/11437102@N00/578154662/ (http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2upKExI.3IASjVWBQx./SIG=128mbscjd/EXP=1213037097/**http%3A//www.flickr.com/photos/11437102@N00/578154662/)
Cheers
Brogusblue
Well I've gone through my whole rose bush and it seems they were only on the one rose which was shrivelled up and which the dog has since decided to eat! Rest of bush seems clear of them. To be honest it really looked like a stag beetle, there were three of them all nestled within the petals.
Hello
I sounds like earwigs or devils coach horse bettle these do not damage the rose in any way.
Prune the damaged side to the nearest budding eye and spray the rose with rose clear or ultimate bug spray, the rose should recover.
Cheers
Brogusblue
Devil's coach horse beetle - that's the one! Roses now zapped - thanks Brogusblue - was a scary looking monster!
They help kill slugs dont they? I found a violet ground beetle munching on a huge slug last night.....yummy :D