Blister Beetle

Very destructive little beetles. They come in swarms and completely strip plants, even down to eating the top layers on the stems. They love pepper plants, asters, and even ate every leaf off our elm tree. Control I have found to work is to vacuum up beetles when the swarm is at their worst, hand picking and squishing (wear gloves for blister protection). I use one like a ShopVac without the hose ends and allow the plants branches to go in the tube and it sucks up all the bugs on the stems. It works great during swarms when they are so concentrated. The beetles also instinctively drop to the ground when disturbed, so if you hold something under the bugs and tap the branch, they usually drop. I have ordered a Spinosad Concentrate bug spray that is organic and the label says safe for vegetab... read morele gardens. I hope the spray works. They must be toxic to poultry, because the chickens and turkeys will not eat these bugs.

These appeared literally overnight after two thunderstorms. Potato vines are covered with them. Early on they appear to be doing no damage. However, after further research, it appears that these beetles are deathly toxic to horses. I would like to find an organic way to get rid of them cuz I'm thinking get rid of them I must since we have horses in the neighborhood.