AusBonsai

I have always had these guys on my trees. There are plenty of them. I am thinking they feed on aphids and spidermites like the ladybug so they are a good bug. A friend in bonsai has stated that they are sap eaters and have been resonsible for the almost death of some of his trees. I have kept a closer look at them since he stated this but I tend to not believe him. They are always scampering over thwe trees like they are looking for something so I am sure they are mite eaters. But I thought it was about time I posted a few pics to get a third or fourth opinion.
Thanks for any help

bug4 is a nice macro shot.......!!!!
but i don't like them on your trees...

I never realised the buggers were so camera shy they did not like getting thier picture taken.
It depends on what they are though if they should not be on my tree. Not all bugs are bad

Soltan, it looks like a Harlequin bug. A quote from what pest and disease is that by Judy McMaugh.
The bug is about 12mm long and Black and red or black and reddish brown.Swarms of these insects often move to cultivated plants from native trees, shrubs and weeds along roadsides when they dry out in the summertime. The plants are damaged when the insects suck sap from young tissue's, and may eventually wilt and die. Fruit may be blemished by insect excrement.
These bugs often cluster on fences, wood heaps tree trunks and similar places, and move on to nearby plants to feed during the day. In winter they may hibernate in the same sorts of places for under the bark of trees.
PLANTS ATTACKED A wide range, including trees such as apples and figs and oranges; and smaller plants such as grapes, rhubarb melons, pumpkins, tomatoes dahlias violets and a variety of weeds.
CONTROL Treat those on garden structures as well as those on plants.Control weeds.
Organic/non-chemical; Knock groups of bugs into soapy water or try spraying with Pyrethrins.
Chemical; Spray with Dimethoate: Carbaryl or Maldison. Hope this helps Pup

It doesn't seem to be as big as 12mm but I'm not sure how big those leaves are. Pup seems confident. I wondered if confirmation could be obtained from these people:-
http://www.insectfarm.com.au/pets.htm
They know a bit of entomology.

As an afterthought I append a pic of the Harlequin as we know it. Oz bugs will be unique of course.

Well it seems he is an ugly no good bug. To think I have been carefull not to squash the buggers as I thought they were helping to keep the mites and aphids down like most ladybugs.
My trees mostly seem healthy enough. The occasional one that is stressed for various reasons has attrachded more of these. I thought they would have been eating any other bug that may have been taking advantage of a stressed tree.
I think I have narrowed it down to the Diabrotica family. they seem to come in many different colors. I have not tracked down this exact pattern but the shape sure looks close to this family. The most common name for some seems to be the cucumber beetle. Maybe some weeding and removing natural mulch from prunning may improve the situation but I don't think they will be that easy to get rid of Time for some squashing tomorrow anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_rootworm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber_beetles

soltan wrote:Time for some squashing tomorrow anyway.

HOLD THE SQUASHING BRETTLES!!!

Mrs Fly informs me that these are Red And Blue Beeltes (stupid name, I know...), AKA Dicranolaius bellulus. Have a look at this page and see what you think. They say that "[t]his species of beetles are partly predacious", meaning that they will actually eat other nasties in your trees.

Good luck!

Fly.

I have a brother inlaw who is an entymologist who works for the DPI in QLD. I sent him your photos and got this reply this morning:

Your friend has a beetle called a Red and Blue Beetle Dicranolaius bellulus. It is a predatory beetle that can be abundant in some years and absent in others, it actively seeks eggs of moths and small slow moving insects. They sometimes feed on pollen but are not considered a pest species on commercial crops.

Backs up Mrs Fly nicely

Ron

Well Mrs Fly is a great asset. Please thank her for me.
That must be the buggers I thought they were looking for nasties to eat. I can't find what the larve feed on but if I can keep them out of the bonsai soil all should be good.
Now if I can just make it up for squashing them

Happy 40th by the way I hope you had a few beers and cheers last night. Over 40 and up before 2pm after a party only a punk could do that.

Thaks Kindly for the trouble Ron Cheers to ya mate

I reckon that Mrs Fly should be congratulated. After considerable research, all that I came up with was a near miss. Pictures below.
Sorry Soltan. I must say that your macro shot was great.

I was quoting from a pest and diseases book I am sorry if it was wrong.
I like all other enthusiasts think good beetles are good for us.
I apologize. But the real good Beatles are no longer. Pup

Pup wrote: But the real good Beatles are no longer. Pup

No longer than about 2cms

We should all remember that whats crawling all over one persons trees can be crawling all over ours next week. Its always good to know what is and what isnt.

Ron

Pup wrote:I was quoting from a pest and diseases book I am sorry if it was wrong.
I like all other enthusiasts think good beetles are good for us.
I apologize. But the real good Beatles are no longer. Pup

I was never around to enjoy them, but their songs are about the only "old stuff" (sorry guys) to make it onto my MP3 player....

I absolutely never kill ANYTHING on my trees until i have it identified. Trees grow all around us, and in the most inhospitable places.....give them some credit. I think too many people water incorrectly, use something they shouldn't have or harm their trees some other way and blame insects or virus etc. Perhaps i am wrong.

I have seen these bugs around my bonsai, quiet frequently, and never had anything to suggest they were harmful.

JayC