As a home gardener, one should not get too upset if they find a few insects feeding on their garden plants. In many instances the damage will be minor and short-lived. However for nurseries, garden centers and cut flower producers flower damage can make plants unsalable and hurt their bottom line.

One of our great local cut flower growers has reported an infestation of Shining Flower Beetles on plants in the composite/aster family. So, I thought I would share the information with you all so you can begin scouting for the pests. Early detection is the first step in a good pest management program.

The grower reports a great many of these beetles eating the flower petals on all kinds of plants in the composite/aster family. She also finds them on nearby composite plant family weeds such as Queen Anne's lace resting under the flowers and within the stems. Other common cut flower plants in the composite/aster family are coneflower, black eyed susan, sunflower, asters, fleabane, coreopsis, joe pye, yarrow and others.

Shining flower beetles  eat the petals of flowers in the composite/aster family such as coneflower. The insects are smaller than Japanese beetles and have clubbed antennae. The insect is a little early this year usually appearing in late summer. The weird spring has made insects earlier this year overall. (Japanese beetles have been eating flower petals lately, too.)

What can you do to combat Shining Flower Beetles and other pests on your blooming flowers? You can treat with products that act as contact pesticides such as soaps and oils. Or treat early in the morning with a short lived insecticide such as pyganic. Anything else will negatively affect pollinators. Learn more about biorational pesticides here.