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Problem: Blister Beetles
Hosts: Beans, peas, potatoes, and other vegetables.
Description: Though there are several members of this family that can cause damage, the Striped and Gray Blister Beetles are the most common. The adult stage causes the damage; not the larvae. The beetles tend to move in swarms and can cause a great deal of defoliation but may not stay in one area for very long.
Blister beetles pass the winter in a pseudopupa stage and then go through a final molt in the spring. After a short period of activity, the larva enters the true pupal stage with the adults emerging midsummer.
Blister beetles have long, slender bodies with a relatively large head. These insects release a caustic substance when crushed that can raise blisters on the skin.
Recommendations: Often beetles will move on in a day or
two. If beetles are handpicked, be sure to wear gloves. A number of stomach insecticides
such as malathion, carbaryl (Sevin) and methoxychlor are also effective for control.
References:
1. Insect Pests, A Golden Guide, Golden Press, pg 74.
2. A Gardener's Guide to Common Insect Pests, Rodale Press, pg 13.
Last Update: 03/28/2003
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