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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles (Elateroidea) » Fireflies (Lampyridae) » Pyropyga » Pyropyga nigricans
Photo#23411
Friend or Foe to my Vegetable Garden (2) - Pyropyga nigricans
Copyright © 2005 Karen Taverner

Friend or Foe to my Vegetable Garden (2) - Pyropyga nigricans
Macomb Twp., MI, Macomb County, Michigan, USA
July 6, 2005
Size: less than 1/2"
These two have been joined at the butt since I've met them. They've been hanging on my Cilantro/Coriander plant for at least a week now. I'm not sure if this is a beneficial insect to my garden... or invasive? I figured I'd leave them be for the time being, until I know what they are.
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Contributed by Karen Taverner on 7 July, 2005 - 11:08am
Last updated 11 January, 2009 - 11:09am

Moved
Moved from Fireflies.
… tom murray, 11 January, 2009 - 11:09am login or register to post comments

must be Pyropyga nigricans
*
… v belov, 11 January, 2009 - 10:31am login or register to post comments

Fireflies.
This is a pair of fireflies, probably in the genus Pyropyga. Since they feed on small insects, I suppose they are "friends," but, again, we don't like to make such distinctions on this site. Speaking personally, humans are the ones who create pest problems by: 1. Deliberately or accidentally introducing species from overseas that have no natural enemies here to check their numbers and 2. Insisting on planting exotic ornamental vegetation that at best struggles in inappropriate climates and soil conditions and are thus weakened and vastly more succeptible to attack from insects. Large scale agricultural systems are even worse. You plant acre after acre of an insect's favorite food plant and then wonder why they devastate the crop? Hel-LO! Ok, getting off my soapbox now. Thank you for sharing the image:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 7 July, 2005 - 12:16pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Eric! I planted a smal
Thanks Eric! I planted a small vegetable garden, and tried to plant herbs that would attract "friendly" insects, so that they could take care of any insects that might eat all my cukes/zukes/maters. I'm just looking to get a few veggies out of my garden that I can eat too :)

Momma
… Karen Taverner, 7 July, 2005 - 12:52pm login or register to post comments

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