These are handsome little beetles and look lovely against the dark red leaves. I don't think they are going to do enough damage to worry about, and I hope the birds will provide any control needed by eating them! but I would love to know who they are.

I'm thinking Disonycha glabrata - Pigweed Flea Beetle:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

Got it in one, thanks! Kind of an ugly name though.

The damage seems to have slacked off, and while I still see the occasional beetle, the plants seem fine.... I sometimes will shake the plants to disturb anyone eating them, but that's the only preventive measure I've taken. Maybe the birds got some!

Update: The bugs have diminished in number; the amaranth is growing fine, albeit with somewhat lacy leaves here and there.

Hi,
I live in 7b also (but in GA), and I know this reply is years too late, but thought I'd answer it anyway since someone else may be looking for the same thing. Your amaranth bug is striped cucumber beetle. They've been eating my amaranth as well! We have both the striped and spotted cucumber beetles here and the striped beetles seem to outnumber the spotted ones by far. I've picked them off in beetle and also larvae form. They are eating all kinds of things - I keep finding them in the male flowers of my pumpkins so picking off the flowers after fading (making sure no bees are still in them first by peeking) and the squishing the blossom (and bug) before the beetle can escape. Anyway, I've never grown amaranth and the few that I have are over 7 feet tall! Can't wait to see what the blooms look like. Happy growing, everyone!

woodcreekcon said:Hi,
I live in 7b also (but in GA), and I know this reply is years too late, but thought I'd answer it anyway since someone else may be looking for the same thing. Your amaranth bug is striped cucumber beetle.

Welcome to the forum. Wondering why you disagree with its having been identified as the pigweed flea beetle above, compare with these pictures, the three spots on the pronotum match and are not present on the cuke beetle, also the colour of the stripes is different (assuming not the western cucumber beetle)

Pigweed flea beetle:
https://bugguide.net/node/view...

Striped cucumber beetle:
https://bugguide.net/node/view...