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I have a few bugs on my pumpkin plant that seem to be eating the leaves. They are shaped like ladybugs but the color isn't red and black. It's more of a shiny bright orange.

Since ladybugs are good for controlling aphids and pests, I want to keep them (if indeed they are ladybugs) around even if they eat some leaves.

Here are some photos. Are these ladybugs?

enter image description here enter image description here

Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL
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Spinor8
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2 Answers2

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Looks like a red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis

pumpkin beetle

Graham Chiu
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6

false lady bugs

Even if insects are found to not be beneficial that does not mean we are relegated to eliminating them ourselves. A little damage is no big deal in comparison to adding chemistry you do not understand to your garden and ultimately eating this chemistry.

How much damage are you seeing?

stormy
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