near coast Vancouver BC - I’ve not notice this bug in previous years — I have a patch of fireweed (came with the expensive top soil - another story ) and I keep a bit of the fireweed for the bees and humm birds The leaves at the top of the spike have pin size holes And this bug that looks like a beetle I obviously don’t spray or dust because we like birds and bees etc I don’t think I need to kill this bug - just curious about it (It does NOT appear to be eating any other plant leaves- only fireweed ) Thank you - I will upload pictures
thank you Daniel - it appears to be only on this particular plant - in other words, all my fireweed that will bloom soon for the bees and Hummingbirds. yet there are hardy roses (eg Explorer and Mediland I think?) ... and hostas and perennial geraniums nearby (touching) and these bugs are not on those plants - only the fireweed.
This is probably Altica tombacina. You can read more about it in this PDF- https://journal.entsocbc.ca/index.php/journal/article/download/663/672
Why yes - look at that! Definitely the bronze color insect I did NOT notice any on the few fireweed in same garden in June 2021 Thank you very much
Per the pdf in Dave's post above: A common feature of most Altica species appears to be marked and unpredictable fluctuations in population density
