What the Heck Are These??

[LucyGoose]

I bet I asked about these last year, but durned if I remember....What are these? Are they bad or good? Man, they are everywhere on my butterfly weed plants.....I have two, side by side, and one is in seed and the other one blooming....that's weird....I was gtting ready to dead head the one in seed and man, these bugs were everywhere....I even saw on on a rose bloom earlier....What am I supposed to do, you think?

Thanks a lot....air-head Lucy!

[oldcoot]

But looks they were doing the same thing my Japanese beettles were ! (Ho-Ho-Ho)

John, that Old Coot

[LucyGoose]

That tells me A LOT JOHN! ...................

[Patrushka]

Don't fret Ms. Goose. I think they are good bugs and won't really hurt your plants. I found them in DH's book. They are Pennsylvania Leather-wings. "Food: Adult eats pollen, nectar, and small insects. Larva devours grasshopper eggs, small caterpillars and beetles. Life Cycle: Eggs are deposited in soil or among ground litter. Fully grown larvae pupate in cells in the soil in spring, emerging as adults after warm weather. Several species native to the Great Plains are used for biological control of Corn Earworm (Heliothis zea) caterpillars.

[LucyGoose]

Thanks Pat! I did a Google of the name you gave me, and yep, they are good to have.....Boy, there are just zillions of them on those two plants! I promise next year I won't ask again....I bet I have asked about them a couple times.... I think it has sunk in now! Thanks again!