Gladiola tunnel

A Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) emerges from a gladiola tunnel in the late afternoon light

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

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Same time, last year: One shot and he was off!

I posted this photo last year around this time. Michael and I are headed up to McKee-Beshers in Maryland to photograph the sunflower field this morning (otherwise, this gal would not be up and typing this early! 😉 I hope to capture a slew of new photos—stay tuned for the results.

Originally posted in July 2010

Unlike the Dogbane Beetle, who let me photograph him for almost 15 minutes, I got just one shot of this Cucumber Beetle before he was off to another sunflower. I wish I could have had time to add some ring flash light to add extra sharpness to his body, but the composition draws me in, so I’m giving myself a brownie point for that!

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Munch, munch, munch…

Spotted Cucumber Beetle on ‘Country Girl’ Chrysanthemum flower, photographed 10.15.2010 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

A few more from Green Spring Gardens…

It seems like everything I photographed at Green Spring Gardens earlier this week was purple or pink!

Photo 1: Spotted Cucumber Beetle laying eggs
on a ‘Country Girl’ Chrysanthemum
Photo 2: Asters (unknown variety)
Photo 3: Japanese Anemone

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Egg laying time

Top photo: Spotted Cucumber Beetle / Bottom photo: unidentified insect / photographed at Green Spring Gardens

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Kilroy was here

Spotted Cucumber Beetle on ‘Country Girl’ Chrysanthemum flower, Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Little bud, little bug

Class, I cannot identify this tiny little beetle-like bug for you. I’ve looked through my various bug identification books and online, to no avail. Any takers? First to identify wins a prize (honest–I’ll think of something!).

He (she?) was traipsing around the passionflower blooms and was less than 1/4 inch long (making it hard to focus that close, too).

NEWSFLASH! We have a winner—Dalogan responded with an identification. My beetle is a Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata). This beetle is considered a major pest of many field crops, but since I have no field crops, and he’s the only one I’ve seen this summer, I think we can co-exist. Thanks, Dalogan!

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. www.cindydyer.wordpress.com