A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 Potato bugs

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Potato Bugs

I can't even look. I want to though, but I can't. I know what I will see, and it scares me, yet still, curiosity gets the best of me.
I better wait until this evening after I have had my nightly tonic. Perhaps that will give me the fortitude to look into the abyss that is The potato Bug.
Is it tonight yet?

Go ahead and look. The first page is actually quite funny. And definately click the "articles" link!

I didn't see the name "Jeruselum Cricket" listed. But that's what I heard them called first. I have yet to see one in person... but DFiance says that, when they walk down the sidewalk, you can hear their legs click against the pavement....

ROFL!!! Cricket, there is a Jewish potato Bug named after you!!!

:p But I'm much CUTER!

I'm named after the bunny on the left (the other is Daisy)

Cricket! That site is hysterical, I can't believe I waited until just now to have a peek! I even tried to check out the message board, but alas, it was down. I mean, this is a site that I could find myself frequenting! The FAQ page was great, it gave me a good giggle, although the pics gave me the heebie jeebies. I can't believe we used to actually have those in our garden, blech! Thanks for the post, that was great.
And I take back what I said, you are MUCH MUCH more cuter than a Jerusalem cricket. That said, it could have been worse, it could have been "bald fetus of Satan"!!!

Here's the one I couldn't get over.

...you all are a riot!

I in fact have these alien creatures in my yard. I have found five of them so far. And yes, they are supposed to give a nasty bite from what I have been reading. I researched them a couple years ago...but forgot everything I learned.

If that's the potato bug what's the one I was told was a potato bug?

It looks like a minature armadillo and rolls into a ball when you touch it and I was told that they were beneficial in the garden.

I'm so confused

those are called pill bugs or roly poly's

grrrr,potato beetles really s*ck.
But I killed 'em deader than a doornail last year with Pyola.

Here is a link for what they look like.

http://www.ourgardenpests.com/PotatoBug.html

roly polies/pill bugs really are a gardeners friend.Just like Weezie said,they eat dead and decaying plant matter.

Last year I had them chomping on my strawberries. But I think that was because it was a very wet and cool spring and summer.
Also the mulch I was using was wood bark chips.I took all that out and replaced it with wheat straw.Much better drainage.

Voila it worked.


Duckie

Cricket...
I have been plagued by potato bugs for several years, and found the potato Bug website you provided the link for to be very helpful.

Unfortunately, I didn't find my potato bug in any of the pictures. It's similar to the "Devil's Spawn", but has some characteristics of the "Bald Evil Fetus".

I found this information on the website to be extremely interesting, due to the fact that I am prone to alien encounters:
I have also sent the photograph of my potato bug to NASA, in hopes of identification.

Cindy's Potato Bug

ROFL, Cindy!!! I thought I was the only one who had those in our garden--Of course, I also thought it was because our garden was in California, but nonetheless, I am not alone! I can't wait to hear what NASA has to say!

EEW. What a scary thread you guys!!! OK..EW..EEW EWW...wanna hear something even scarier? Has anyone seen that show fear factor? Well we never watch it...but...on one occasion because one of our models was competeing on it. So theres this one part where they have to shoot this thing at this big wheel and wherever it lands...that would determine the amount of potato BUGS....that they had to EAT! BLAAAHHHHH....YEUCK!!!! So anyways...Masumi, thank GOD, only had to eat one and guess what? She ate it! AAAACK!!!!

No way. You did not just write that! I have to go obsessively brush my teeth now!!!

Cindy, that scares me, too! Almost enough to make me want to quit drinking. )

Okay, now I will never sleep again. Sleep just isn't worth the nightmares.

Sorry...I know...so disgusting! Whats sad is she didn't win the competition either. $50,000.00. UMMM...I don't think I'd eat one of those things for 100 grand. Nope. I'll stay poor and have my top ramen.

Hi all! so potato bugs/ nino de la tierra as I know it is not deadly? my parents who are Mexican always said if they bit me i could die in thirty minutes or less. they are ugly though. As a child killed a potato bug by drowning it in my daddy's taquila/ mescal which is a white taquila made from the Yucca plant.

Hey, that's alcohol abuse! Although I do have to say that if I would use any means necessary to get rid of the darn things. Even my precious tequila!