Could be, although more than some are a green colour as well
deathrockboy,
Mar 9, 11:44pm
Their color is variable, juveniles can also be differently colored, in the same way as green shield bugs.
lemming2,
Mar 10, 2:53pm
Yep, that's a juvenile Green Shield beetle. Try squashing one and smelling the horrible pong to guarantee it!
bumfacingdown,
Mar 10, 7:07pm
Thanks for the offer but think I shall leave smelling bugs to others
traderken,
Mar 10, 10:45pm
Thanks for the info I have found only one beetle so I guess I was lucky. Now that the caterpillars have eaten the swan plantand formed their cocoons will I have to replace the swan plant for next year or will it grow again. Regards
gyrogearloose,
Mar 10, 10:56pm
If the swan plant is well developed with plenty of branches it will recover several times a year, and grow for many years (aside from frost). The trick is getting them well developed before the first swarm of caterpillars strips it - cover them with bird netting to stop butterflies laying eggs, and pinch out the central stem to encourage secondary branches.
uke17,
Apr 13, 10:49am
Our swan plant survived the Wellington snow in 2011!
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