Identification
Adults virtually of same appearance as L. daturaphila, but may be discriminated as follows (according to White&Day):
- median yellow band on elytra paler at sides in living specimens (of one colour in daturaphila; seems not to work with bugguide images);
- lateral black band covering 2 1/2 intervals at most (more than 2 1/2 in daturaphila);
(following characters of +/- gradual nature)
- tibiae usually yellow for more than half of their length (nearly always dark to more than 1/2 in daturaphila);
- femora often dark apically (rarely so in daturaphila)
- sternal pieces often broadly black (sometimes narrowly black in daturaphila)
The eggs of trivittata are said to have blackish tips, while those of daturaphila are dark yellow throughout.
Range
Fl. to Mass. to Wash. to Calif., plus Ont. & Queb., and Mex.
(1)Food
Solanaceae, most records from Solanum tuberosum aka the Potato...
(2)Remarks
Lema trivittata Say, 1824 was, for a long time, regarded as a colour form of L. daturaphila (trilineata auct.). It was removed from synonymy after rearing experiments proved infertility between the two forms.
Print References
White, R.E. & Day, W.H. 1979. Taxonomy and biology of Lema trivittata Say, a valid species with notes on L. trilineata (Oliv.)(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Entomological News 90(5): 209-217.
