Sorry to inform you but… Look up four lined plant bug.

Hmm, yes that looks like it might be them. :(

Thanks GardenHo!

:)

Dee

I had a lot of that on my Hydrangea 'Quick Fire' this year. Seems to have outgrown it in the last couple of weeks.

laceyvail did you do anything? Or just let it be? I have seen this in the past, but not to the extent I've had it this year. I grow organically, and honestly don't ever do much at all in terms of pests or diseases, usually because I don't have time to be out in the garden much, but I may have to try something this season.

:)

Dee

Yup: definitely Four-lined Plant Bug damage. My garden gets hit hard most years, and it's especially frustrating considering that their favorites are mostly things in Lamiaceae that are avoided by mammalian pests, like Salvias, Agastache, Lavender, Nepeta, etc.

On the plus side, the damage is mostly just "cosmetic" (for mature/established plants), even though it really does look pretty awful. The life cycle of the adults is pretty short, and once they're done (usually around July 4th here), most plants will resume fresh new growth above the damaged bits.

You can try hand picking/squishing them, especially if you want to interrupt their breeding cycle and prevent fresh infestations the following spring, but they're pretty crafty and flighty, and usually take off on me at the slightest movement of air anywhere near them. I mostly just ignore them!

The UMN Extension site has some good info here: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/four-lined-plant-bugs

So that’s what those are called! I have them most years, but not enough to cause real damage. I try to squish them with a gloved hand. You seem to have a lot, diggerdee. I hope you can kill some, so you don't have so many next year. Is this the first time you have this much damage?

gdinie I have had it in the past, but not to this extent. I've noticed it maybe on one or two plants here or there. This year it's on many more plants and to a greater extent. And I don't think I've noticed them. I'll have to keep a closer eye out but in the meantime I'm hoping that the damage is indeed just cosmetic!

Thank you both for your help!

:)

Dee