Beetles on the rosemary?

I have recently discovered a group of metalic beetles on the rosemary bush in my garden. They're about 1cm long and sit sround the ends of the stalks. has anyone seen this before? Will they harm the plant or are they a good thing?

Beetles on the rosemary?
A few spring to mind that are metallic -





Chrysolina americana - The Rosemary Leaf Beetle - probably not a coincidence, as this loves Rosemary (sometimes lavender, thyme and sage) plants. Metallic green, with purple strips, about 8mm long - not quite an inch.


Its larvae are destructive to rosemary foliage, though the adults, other than laying more eggs, are less of a threat.


http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/projects/...





Cetonia aurata – The Rose Chafer - roundish, usually eats flowers. As Rosemary plants are still flowering now, it may be eating some flowers. Usually metallic green, sometimes bronze/other colours. Its larvae eat decaying plant matter, old wood, plant matter etc, so aren't a problem. I see this in my garden from time to time, About 3/4 of an inch.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_chafer





Oedemera nobilis – thick-legged flower beetle. Again likes flowers, but is normally in wild areas.


http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o238-...





There is 1 endangered beetle, a (mostly) scarlet and metallic green, called Scarlet malachite beetle (Malachius aeneus). You may have this, and this would be damaging to disturb them, as there are now very few left. Only seen now in the south of England, usually in wild plant areas.


http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invert...





Could be the Majestic or other Ground Beetle, eg. Carabus violaceus which eat garden pests, such as slugs etc.


http://www.uksafari.com/violetgroundbeet...





Beatles sitting in the sun are probably warming themselves up, as they are cold blooded, and need the sun's wamth to get their energy 'going'..





I'll check back later, to see if you've added anything more on them. Eg, colour, shape etc. You may have idintified it from the photos in the links I've added in this answer.





Good luck! Rob





Good luck! Rob

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