While picking off Japanese beetles, I saw a rather pretty bug. It has a skinny body about an inch long, dark brown with yellow legs and a yellow dot on it's upper back. It flies. Does any one know what it is and if it's a good bug or a bad bug? While we're on the subject, there's some kind of bug that likes radish blossoms. they are orange or yellow or red, with black spots, flat and shaped a lot like a stink bug. They don't seem to be causing any trouble. There's also bugs that look kinda like giant Mexican bean beetles. They're not on the beans, just here and there, haven't seen any damage from them. Thanks for your help.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), July 13, 2000

Answers

Could your "bugs" of different colors and black spotted actually be immature ladybugs?

-- Terri Perry (tperry@stargate.com), July 13, 2000.

Terri, these bugs are about 4 times the size of a lady bug and very flat. They look like the same texture, though.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), July 13, 2000.

Cindy, I don't recognize either of your bugs, but your library should have some insect identification books, and your county extension agent will have lots of stuff on them if they are crop pests in your area. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 14, 2000.

Cindy, I've done some more looking. Still can't figure out what your first bug is. The second one may be a Harlequin bug-it is in the stinkbug/shieldbug family. If it is a Harlequin, it is considered a garden pest and very destructive. Don't have any ideas about your giant Mexican bean beetle either, except that there are a lot of ladybugs and bean beetles. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 17, 2000.

Gerbil, thanks for researching for me. Those possible harlequin bugs are only on the radish blossoms, maybe that's a good trap for them. Cindy

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), July 18, 2000.