So, I was able to contact a Purdue University entomologist, Tom Turpin, about my bug situation and sent him a link to my page and pictures (you should check out his page too).
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, about that excitement about the bug maybe being a beneficial. Not the case. Here's the email I got back from him:
"What you have is a sawfly, probably of the Argidae family. The immature argid sawflies are caterpillar like and feed on the foliage of their host plants. Many times the immatures feed in groups and can defoliate the plant. So you might want to be on the lookout for little caterpillars chowing down on some of the garden plants. It that happens there is not much choice but to get out the old spray can and have a go at them. I hope this helps. Good hearing from you, and best wishes."
I asked in a later email if neem oil would work and he wasn't sure, but worth a try. I also asked if diatomaceous earth was of any use either and he didn't think so.
As usual, many words, that cannot be said are going though my head right now. (Wow, that sounds like the lyrics to a song doesn't it?)
Well, FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE, THIS:
is a SAWFLY.
IT IS BAD AND I HATES IT.
and will make me do a lot of work now. Bah.
On a more positive note though, here's a shout out to Purdue and their awesome entomology department that educates dumb folks likes me about the ways and looks of bugs. If you're ever in the area when they are having their annual Bug Bowl, you too can enjoy chocolate covered crickets (a little chewy), stir fried crickets (actually quite good, nutty) and cricket spitting! (No, the crickets do not get a running leap off of your tongue when you spit them; they are dead prior to being spat. My record was like... 6 ft. I think the record is like 22ft... or farther, if you're lucky the wind's to your back.)
(AND, no one can ever tell me that I wasn't adventurous!)
