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Big identification #874052

Asked June 21, 2024, 11:11 AM EDT

Hi, these bugs were first noticed last year close to Alexandria, SD. They larvae seem to like the field bindweed and possibly our alfalfa.

Hanson County South Dakota

Expert Response

These are argus tortoise beetle larvae - https://extension.sdstate.edu/argus-tortoise-beetle-no-its-not-lady-beetle

They are not pests of alfalfa, and can almost be thought of as biocontrol for the bindweed.

Amanda Bachmann, PhDPesticide Education and Urban Entomology Field Specialist Replied June 24, 2024, 2:23 PM EDT

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This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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