Species Lema daturaphila - Three-lined Potato Beetle

Old-fashioned Potato Beetle

day-toor-uh-FEEL-uh

Lema trilineata (Olivier), Lema trilinea White

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"Years ago, this species was known as Lema trilineata (Olivier). However, this name is a junior primary homonym of another species and can therefore not be used. Richard White recognized this nomenclatural problem. He also recognized that two synonyms of Lema trilineata were also junior homonyms and could not be used. Accordingly, he proposed the name Lema trilinea as a replacement name for Lema trilineata. However, he did not recognize that Lema daturaphila Kogan & Goeden was a synonym without any problems with homonymy. Lema daturaphila has priority over Lema trilinea and is the name that should be used.

"In my mind, there are a lot of questions still unanswered regarding the identification of L. daturaphila and similar species (L. trivittata Say, L. pubipes Clark, etc.). The species are largely separated by color pattern. However, the patterns vary dramatically, from specimens that are mostly black to specimens that are mostly yellow. Richard White, who wrote the North American revision of Lema and related genera, was probably right in recognizing several species. However, attempting to identify specimens with intermediate or unusual color patterns can be frustrating." --S.M. Clark, pers. comm. to =v=, 24.i.2014

Lema daturaphila Kogan & Goeden 1970

6-7.5 mm

widely dist (CA-FL-ME-OR) / adj Can / Mex (1)

hosts: Solanaceae

sympatric with the similar L. trivittata: