mystery plant and mystery bug

[Slug]

Hi all,

Can I call on your expertise to identify a mystery plant for me - while I was there I saw a funky triangle shaped bug - but I seem to recall reading about this one before on here and can't remember if it was good or bad....!!!

Anyway, the plant popped up in the garden, but I have an awful habit of planting stuff and forgetting what I've put in there, so I've left it... but now it's looking a bit 'weedy' so I want to know if I should pull it up. I'm beginning to think... yes!!

Sorry if it's a bit stupid - cos you're probably going to look at this now and say 'that's soooooo obvious, it's a xxxx!!'

Thanks!

Slug

[PAULW]

The bug is a shield bug.

[PAULW]

SNAP great mind think alike

[PAULW]

Could be ragwort

[Slug]

Ooh, ragwort... that doesn't sound good?

And what about sheild bugs - goodies or badies?

[Snadger]

I would agree with PAULW, the first piccie certainly looks like ragwort!

Ragwort is poisonous to animals that graze on it, methinks!

[Plotlady]

Definitly ragwort get rid!

[yoanbob]

yes its ragwort get rid asap, make sure you remove all the root, nasty plant, its poisonous like snadger says and its also illigal to allow it to florish on your land.

[Slug]

Wow - thanks guys! I had no idea.... I have never seen it before and thought it might have been something nice I planted, so I left it for a while

I've packed up for the night and watered the area today, so it should be easier to get it out tomorrow....

Thank goodness you're an all knowing bunch of grapes!!

[Pippin]

Shield bugs should`nt give you any problems.

[Mushroom]

I don't think its ragwort, dont know what it is though.
It is a shield bug - dont touch it as it sprays a yucky smelling stuff at you when its disturbed!

[muckdiva]

Yes, it's definitely ragwort. I've pulled so much out of horse paddocks I'm almost an expert! It's very toxic to many grazing animals and is more palatable to them when dry, so don't leave it lying around, and I wouldn't put it straight onto your compost heap either - burn ideally. Important - wear gloves or wash your hands very well after handling this plant - it's also toxic to humans.

[terrier]

Also have a look around the area close by. It's likely that seeds blew in last season. You may find more of these plants close by. If it's on a neighbours land, pass the message on to them that it is a notifiable plant and should be uprooted and destroyed.

[shirlthegirl43]

The plant is, as stated above, ragwort.

Off now to pull any out of my horse field! Nightmare job as you don't dare leave a single leaf behind for fear of poisoning the animals. Sheep can eat the plants when they are small though. A friend was telling me yesterday about losing his favourite pony - he found out later that some well-meaning person had tied a bundle of ragwort up and hung it over the fence for the pony. As the plant dies, it gets sweet and very attractive to horses and ponies (who don't normally eat it while it is growing) and much more poisonous too. Make sure that wherever you dispose of it, it is out of reach of veggie animals please.

[Dobby]

I'm shore we got some of that in the frunt garden thought it was just a weed
best have a look and dig it up if it is
will week killer work on it
Bella our dog eats the grass in the frunt