Green tortoise beetle
Tips against the green tortoise beetle
The green shield beetle and its larvae feed on the leaves of its host plant. In doing so, the beetle leaves large holes in the leaves. Eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves and are often camouflaged with excrement.
Remedies
The beetles and their larvae and eggs should be collected by hand in the morning, as the beetles are usually still slow and sluggish. Niemöl can also drive the beetles away. The caterpillar fly can be introduced as a beneficial insect and natural enemy of the beetle. As a preventative measure, you should dig up the soil where the infested plants were in the fall or spring to drive away or collect the overwintering larvae or beetles. Also ensure a healthy mixed crop and do not plant too many potential host plants in one place.
Susceptible plants
- Compositae (sunflowers, marigolds, lettuce, tarragon, artichokes, ...)
- Labiates (mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, ...)
Siga / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
