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Destructive blister beetles appear to be out in full force this year.

If you find striped insects destroying your tomatoes, they might be blister beetles.

“I went out to my garden to look at my tomatoes today, and there were a ton of striped insects all over them. They are destroying my tomatoes. What do I do?” — P.S.

The insect you are describing is likely a blister beetle. While there are thousands of different varieties of blister beetles, the most common one in Oklahoma is the striped blister beetle, though we have been getting reports of black blister beetle activity, as well.

Irrespective of their color, blister beetles share some common traits. Their most identifying features include a long body, slender thorax (neck), and a larger head. Typically, they range in size from between 1/3 to 2/3 of an inch in length.

In addition, doing damage to our garden crops, blister beetles can also be a problem in baled alfalfa for livestock. While the harvesting process can kill the blister beetles, the cantharidin in their bodies remains a problem in even dead blister beetles. Unfortunately, when livestock (particularly horses) feed on baled alfalfa that contains dead blister beetles, this can cause illness or even death in the livestock.

Adult blister beetles emerge in the spring. After emerging, the adults feed, mate, and the females lay clusters of eggs in the soil. These eggs will overwinter in the soil and emerge in late spring or early summer the following year. When the eggs hatch, they search for immature solitary bees or the eggs of grasshoppers to feed upon while in their larval stage. While feeding and growing they can look like grubs. Usually there is only one generation per year of blister beetles. When you discover blister beetles on your tomatoes, it can be a bit shocking because blister beetles like to congregate. One day you may not see any of them and then the next day your plant is covered with them.

In addition to their voracious appetite as adults, the cantharidin found in their bodies can cause rather unsightly blisters in humans. Because of this, when handling blister beetles or the plants playing host to blister beetles, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and long sleeves, probably even long pants.

To control blister beetles, you can manually remove them and destroy them while wearing protective clothing. On the chemical control spectrum, you can use an organic pesticide that contains pyrethrin. These are readily available in a variety of trade names at most garden centers. You can also use neem oil but be sure to test the neem oil on part of the plant first because horticultural oils in hot weather can sometimes damage your plants. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th St. or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org

• Always follow directions on the labels of both synthetic and natural pesticide products. Labels will always list where the product may be used and which pest it is certified to cover. If you spray pesticides, do it early in the morning or late in the evening after bees have returned to their colony.

• If your tomatoes are too tall and gangly, now is a good time to prune the top of the plants by as much as one-third to one-half, depending on the plant. This will stimulate new limb growth and new fruit production after it cools.

• Reseeding fescue is best done from mid-September through mid-October If you plan on reseeding, begin scouting for good seed, there is no “best” variety. Purchase a fescue blend of three or more varieties, with or without Kentucky bluegrass. Read the label on the seed bag. A good blend will have 0.01 percent or less of undesirable “other crop” seeds.

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If you find striped insects destroying your tomatoes, they might be blister beetles.

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