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Photo#136596
Yellow leaf-eating bugs - Epilachna borealis

Yellow leaf-eating bugs - Epilachna borealis
Nashville (West Meade), Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
August 14, 2007
Size: under 1/2 inch
My wife and I have been mystified by something that has been ravaging our squash plant. Today I saw what I THOUGHT to be a group of ladybugs on the leaves, and I originally believed they were preying on whatever was eating the leaves. Then I realised, on closer inspection, that THEY were the culprits. Anyone have an idea what they are?

Squash ladybird beetles. No, really!
Epilachna is the one genus of lady beetles that has taken to consuming vegetation instead of aphids and scale insects. Here you have Epilachna borealis, the squash lady beetle, munching away.

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