Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - April 15, 2014
From: Austin , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pests
Title: Tiny beetles eating a native plant in Austin, TX.
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
Help! Found plant devoured in my wildflower garden! Covered with literally thousand of small black bronze beetles. They are on other plants but the other plants (native poppies, coneflower, coreopsis, etc) look fine. I don't even remember what this plant was & can't recognize it now. I live about 2 miles from the Wildflower Center. Thanks!ANSWER:
There are a number of different beetles that fit the description you've given. Flea beetles and leaf beetles come first to mind, but there are quite a few species of those as well. Many of these beetles are quite specific to the plants they eat. That might be why they've decimated one plant, but not its neighbors even though they're all over them.
We think the insect and plant you've described is Coreopsis Leaf Beetle, Phaedon desotonis on Tickseed, Coreopsis sp.
It is definitely helpful to know which host plant is being eaten. If that is not possible, you might take a sample of the Travis County Agrilife Extension Service office. Your county agent can also advise you on what control measures, if any, you might want to employ.
If you can take very sharply-focused close-up images of a beetle, you might submit them to Bugguide.net for identification. Their ID success rate is pretty high.
More Pests Questions
Problems with beheaded non-native Gerbera daisies in Cooperstown, NY
May 31, 2009 - I planted my gerberas in my perennial bed - as usual. Something is beheading them and leaving the blooms along side the plant. Some of the bloom is eaten but most of it is right there.
I have t...
view the full question and answer
Worms in non-native snake plant from Hillsborough NC
September 17, 2011 - I purchased a snake plant this summer for my screened in porch. I did not repot it and left it in the plastic pot in came it. I was about to repot the plant to bring it in and noticed there are worm...
view the full question and answer
Cat deterents
May 01, 2007 - I was wondering if there is such a plant that will deter
cats from going in your gardens. I have a problem with them using my garden
as a litter box, and had heard that there was a plant that the...
view the full question and answer
Problems with Gregg's mistflower from Fredericksburg, TX
May 19, 2013 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Something is wilting the tops of my Gregg's mistflower, Conoclinium greggii. I cannot see bugs on the plant, so I am wondering if it's a disease. The problem is widespread to...
view the full question and answer
Preventing Oak Galls
February 22, 2016 - How do you prevent live oak galls? Do you have a solution? Many of our live oaks are infested with them.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |