Last weekend, I discovered these weird insects on one of my pepper plants. I have never come across these guys in my garden before, and there were quite a few of them camped out on various parts of my large Lemon Drop Pepper plant. Does anyone have any idea what they are?
The spiny, black and brown, almost prehistoric-looking insects were located at the crooks of the pepper plant where thinner stems branched off from a main stem. As pictured, there were two larger insects, and then numerous smaller bugs surrounding them. I'm not sure if the smaller insects were babies, worker drones or complimentary insects. I am guessing babies.
The area of stem where the bugs were located had some brown scarring on it, so I made the educated guess that these insects were not friendly to the plant. Happily, my insecticidal soap
was very effective in wiping both the big and little spiny insects out.So... Anyone seen these insects before? I'm really curious about them.They're so weird-looking.
I am thinking it may be something brought into the country by accident.
I guess at Spiny beetle. The first picture I found was taken by a doctor in Kuala Lumpur! It looks similar, I think. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaludin/4642826331/
And this shot, I thought someone had cropped your photo. http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-50921047/stock-photo-macro-shot-of-a-spiny-beetle.html
But I don't have any information more than that, sadly. My first thought though, was Eww. ;)
If you still have the bodies, I'd say take them to your county extension agent or similar for identification.
Glad to hear the insecticidal soap worked though. :)
Those are nymphs to what's commonly called pepper bugs. Keeled Treehoppers (Antianthe expansa)
http://bugguide.net/node/view/88188/bgpage
Troy, that's it! Thanks for the identification. Sounds like they can do some damage, so hopefully I managed to get rid of all of them at the nymph stage.
Thanks, Troy! For the info and the link!