Tiny Gold Bugs Eating Morning Glories

Identification

• The golden tortoise beetle and its related species of tortoise beetles are frequent pests of morning glories and many other vines in the same plant family. The native range of the golden tortoise beetle extends from the Rocky Mountains and into the Eastern U.S. The pests also infest a number of food crops such as corn, cabbage, eggplant and strawberry.

Adult

• The adult golden tortoise beetle is oval to oblong in shape and gets its name from its distinct, gold color. It measures less than half an inch long. Various species within the family are distinguished by red or black marks on the bodies. The bodies are square and flat near the shoulder with a slight shell-like, overall appearance. The margins of the body grow rooflike to cover most of the head region and legs.

Larvae

• The pest lays its tiny eggs in masses on foliage undersides and the emerging larvae are dull green, yellow to brown with shieldlike areas behind black heads. Mature larvae are less than an inch long. The pests have distinct anal forks at the base of the abdomen. These forks are filled with excrement that is deposited on the infested plants. The oval-shaped pupae are similar to the adults in shape.

Damage

• The golden tortoise beetle adults and larvae are foliage eaters and inflict the most damage to young seedlings. The younger larvae scrape the leaf tissue as they feed, creating thin windows in infested leaves. Adult beetles and larger larvae damage is characterized by round holes in foliage. The waste matter, or frass, excreted by the larvae, often more in weight than the pest itself, is a distinct sign of infestation.

Control

• The use of insecticides for the control of golden tortoise beetle is not necessary. Keep plants in good health with timely fertilization and irrigation as vigorously growing plants are more resistant to infestation.