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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: claybasket on August 19, 2013, 22:57:56

Title: strange insect
Post by: claybasket on August 19, 2013, 22:57:56
I found a odd looking bug it was 3times as big as a ladybird its head had long antennas and a large fat body black with 4yellow marks at each corner ,it was about nearly 1inch long any idea what it was? no pics sorry.
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: Digeroo on August 20, 2013, 06:38:02
Does this help?

http://www.plantwise.org/default.aspx?site=234&page=4279&dsID=26515

harmonia axyridis f spectabilis - harliquin ladybird

If so - squash asap.

Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: pumkinlover on August 20, 2013, 07:42:54
I would not feel confident to say which species is the harlequin despite this excellent link.
Not enough to risk killing a friend!
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: saddad on August 20, 2013, 08:37:53
Without a picture it sounds more like an Asparagus Beetle, think Lilly Beetle with the four paler square markings...
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: artichoke on August 20, 2013, 11:28:50
Surely asparagus beetle is not an inch long?
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: Digeroo on August 20, 2013, 14:01:00
Did not notice the inch long not sure the harlequin ladybird is an inch long.
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: claybasket on August 20, 2013, 21:01:06
Hi Digeroo this bug had a separate head from the body if you know what I mean and rather long legs ,It wasn't the Harliquin Ladybird ? It could have been some kind of beetle !
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: Mikeakabigman on August 21, 2013, 07:00:29
Try looking here, there are several beetles with yellow marks   http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/beetles.html (http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/beetles.html)
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: claybasket on August 21, 2013, 10:35:05
Hi ,Mike thanks for the wonderful info on beetles and it looks like the SAXON BEETLE NO 2, I think its the same kind of markings so it is most likely the one I new someone would find it :happy7:
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: pumkinlover on August 23, 2013, 09:07:40
Fascinating- I never realised we had bugs that big here in the UK!
Title: Re: strange insect
Post by: Paulines7 on August 23, 2013, 10:46:55
Glad you have been able to identify it, Claybasket. 

Talking of bugs, we have been inundated indoors with ground beetles running across our carpet this year.  We didn't know how they were getting in or if we had an infestation.  :dontknow:

We were puzzling this conundrum and I said to my son that they probably fly in when he is standing by the front door of an evening, having a ciggie.  He assured me they didn't fly and that it wasn't him letting them in.  He then picked one up and placed it on the back of his hand.  It immediately flew off!  He now closes the door when he goes for a ciggie and the problem seems to have gone away.   

Has anyone else had problems with beetles being indoors?