Re: what bug is this ?

Kevin Van Sant wrote:
> Anyone recognize these guys?  Know how to deal with them?  (preferably
> organically)

Thanks for the good photo.   It helps to identify the 
culprit: the striped
blister beetle.   Google to find many good images.

These BadGuys devour the foliage on my eggplants.   I avoid 
the use
of chemicals so I deal with this insect pest by hand-picking 
and dropping
them into a solution of water and liquid detergent.

 From what I've read, squa****ng the beetle between your 
fingers will produce
an ugly but not dangerous blister.   I've handled them 
gently without ever
getting a blister.   Their favorite defense is to drop to 
the ground and scurry
away under the garden mulch.   Therefore the recommended 
method for hand-
picking is to cup one hand under the leaf and use the other 
to brush the
insect into your cupped hand.   If practical, position a 
container of soapy water
under the left and brush the beetle directly into that.

The population of striped blister beetles fluctuates from 
year to year.   Last
year they were numerous in my vegetable garden; this year 
fewer have been
found.

Good luck.

Daniel B. Martin