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Blister Beetles on Holly: Temporary Defoliators

Q: Hundreds of bugs stripped Nellie Stevens holly leaves, then vanished.

A: Gray blister beetle (Epicauta caviceps). They rarely eat leaves but may target tender new growth. Not worth spraying—they come and go quickly. Avoid handling—their juice causes blisters on thin skin.

Blister Beetles

About Gardening: Tiny Brown Beetles in Home: Stored Product Pests, Not Woodworm; Small Black Beetles on Ornamental Cherry: Organic Options Spinosad or Neem; Blister Beetles in the Tomato Garden: Row Covers and Neem Oil for Prevention; Controlling Rose Beetles: Hand-Picking and Sevin Dust; Asian Lady Beetle Invasion: Prevention and Indoor Control; Dwarf Holly and Alberta Spruce Pairing; Inkberry Holly Leaf Discoloration: Stress from Weather Extremes; Winter Injury on Hollies: Northeast Exposure Damage and Recovery; When Not to Fertilize Healthy Holly Shrubs; Diagnosing Inner Dieback in Japanese Holly Shrubs

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