Bug ID

[jjsull33]

Sorry if this is the wrong spot, but could I please get an ID of this bug? It's really small, black and almost metallic shiny. They are all over the turnip greens in one corner of my russian outdoor pen.

 

[adamlikesbananas]

I've seen some like that before, but I don't know the real name of them.
It might be a good idea to get his/her habitat sprayed with insect killer just in case. a spray that isn't toxic to tortoises of course.

 

[jjsull33]

Any suggestions? Think straight neem oil will work?

 

[mainey34]

I would not feed after. Using neem oil. It sucks. Ive tried everything. Try oil, dish soap

 

[jjsull33]

I will probably just leave them be, He has plenty of other growth going on in his pen and they really only seem to be eating 2 or 3 turnip green plants in one corner.

I am going to stop by the grow store on my way home from work today and see if they have any suggestions, but most of their stuff is chemicals so I won't use them.

Maybe I will add a small preying mantis or two haha for a natural bug control.

 

[mike taylor]

Get you some lady bugs they eat the bugs that eat your plants . Order off line .

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[jjsull33]

I haven't ordered any but I always see them on my plants, a few in each pen every day. Probably cheaper to buy a pack of lady bugs than of mantids so I think I will try that first.

My friend at the Grow Store told me that I should try soapy water, not a ton of soap, but it should kill the bugs without hurting the torts. Is this true? I know the bugs won't like it but will my torts mind?

 

[mike taylor]

I would not use soap on anything my tortoise is going to eat. I would try the lady bugs . If there are a lot of predators there will be smaller bigs running to the hills and when there's no more pray the predators run off .

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[jjsull33]

I have seen a lot of lady bugs around lately so I think I will buy some more for reinforcements.

 

[mike taylor]

Re: RE: Bug ID

I would not use soap on anything my tortoise is going to eat. I would try the lady bugs . If there are a lot of predators there will be smaller bigs running to the hills and when there's no more pray the predators run off .

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Bugs my bad

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