Rosemary beetle-do I need to worry?

hotcookie101

Have just discovered these amazing looking beetles on my lavender bush (LOADS of them, prob at least 30 on one plant-which is 3 times the size it was last year, and I am really pleased with it) and am reading conflicting reports on how much I need to worry. I have lots and lots of rosemary, thyme and sage also which from reading thats what the little bugs like to eat :eek: (I think I might cry if all my rosemary and thyme plants died-I use them virtually every day in cooking)

Do I have to worry about them? Shake them off daily and squish them? Leave them be? I do not want to use insecticides as my garden is FULL of bees and butterflies and would rather not kill them too.

Thanks in advance for advice

olly300

Start squashing them asap.

Oh the RHS gives this method of collection -

The adults and larvae can be collected by placing newspaper or an open upturned umbrella under the branches and tapping them to dislodge the insects.

More infor here - http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests/Rosemary-beetle

BexInLondon

They're a bit of a nightmare so unfortunately you need to get squashing. It does seem a shame cos they're so pretty (and I speak as one who generally finds beetles hideous)!