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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) » Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea Beetles (Galerucinae) » Luperini » Diabroticina » Section Diabroticites » Cucumber Beetles (Diabrotica) » Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)

Species Diabrotica undecimpunctata - Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Diabrotica undecimpunctata Cucumber beetle? - Diabrotica undecimpunctata spotted cucumber beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi? - Diabrotica undecimpunctata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Subfamily Galerucinae (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea Beetles)
Tribe Luperini
Subtribe Diabroticina
No Taxon (Section Diabroticites)
Genus Diabrotica (Cucumber Beetles)
Species undecimpunctata (Spotted Cucumber Beetle)
Other Common Names
Southern Corn Rootworm (larval stage)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Diabrotica soror LeConte
Explanation of Names
Diabrotica undecimpunctata Mannerheim 1843
Size
5‒9 mm
Identification
Subspecies, per(1): In D. u. undecimpunctata, the abdomen is greenish-yellow, elytra with 11 spots; in D. u. howardi, it is yellow to yellowish-red with 12 large black spots. The head, antennae and legs are all-black (howardi) or with some greenish-yellow (undecimpunctata).
Range
D. undecimpunctata howardi - southern/eastern
D. undecimpunctata undecimpunctata OR‒CA‒AZ to CO
Food
Larvae feed on roots and tunnel through stems of a wide range of plants, including crops
Life Cycle
Overwinters as an adult in southern states. Eggs are laid at soil surface or below at the base of food plants. Larvae hatch in 7 - 10 days and feed for three to six weeks. The larvae pupate at the base of host plants and emerge as adults in 1‒2 weeks.
Remarks
Major pest of many crops including cucumbers and other squashes, corn, soy. Beetles transmit diseases, e.g. bacterial wilt. Adults reported damaging garden plants. Larvae can cause severe damage to small plants, but less damage to large ones.(2)
Internet References
Fact sheet (Gill et al. 2013)(2)
Works Cited
1.European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)
2.University of Florida: Featured Creatures
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, Ted Kropiewnicki, v belov
Last updated 23 October, 2023 - 4:05pm

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