Hello,
There is a new marauder into my eggplants that I have never seen
before, and that is not in my Audubon Insect book.
It is a beetle, about the size and roundness of a garbanzo bean.
It is shiney, grey/beige and has three grey/black stripes down its
back plus on each side a curved row of black dots.
The babies are mostly grey.
They are very squishable, so the exterior is not firm like a
Japanese beetle.
I've found 3 types of egg clusters under the leaves... bright
orange, black, and white (so I don't know what the two that are not
these beetles might be spawning).
They are just devouring the eggplant leaves. Everyday I find new
ones I have missed, but they are a lot easier than, say, aphids. I
just need to go out there everyday and pick them off.
But does anyone know what these are? I've had the garden 10
years and have never seen them before.
Thanks.
Kira