also called the spotted cucumber beetle
adult is about 1/4 inch long, greenish yellow with 12 black spots on its back
adults have a black head and relatively long dark antennae
larvae are long and slender and are about 1/2 inch long when full grown
white to yellowish, with a distinct brown head
brown patch on top of the last abdominal segment
|
Photo credit: Extension Entomology, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University
|
known to feed on more than 200 different plant species including many crops
adults are general foliage feeders
often occur in large numbers
damage appears as irregular holes in leaves, and damaged growing tips
may cause considerable leaf damage
occasionally seedlings are girdled at or near ground level
larvae feed on plant roots and bore into germinating seed
may infest large roots and underground stems
larval damage wilts and stunts plants or stand loss
|