Posts Tagged: Diabrotica

Spotted Cucumber Beetles: They Know How to Hit the Spot

Western spotted cucumber beetles know how to hit the spot. Make that "multiple spots."  These...

Wide angle shot of a western spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, chewing a hole in a petal of a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wide angle shot of a western spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, chewing a hole in a petal of a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a western spotted cucumber beetle chewing a hole in a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a western spotted cucumber beetle chewing a hole in a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end result: a Mexican sunflower you wouldn't want to enter in a county fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end result: a Mexican sunflower you wouldn't want to enter in a county fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a western spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a western spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Case of Mistaken Identity

"Ah, look at that cute little yellow ladybug! Isn't it pretty?" How many times have you heard that? Often it is not the beneficial lady...

A spotted cucumber beetle foraging on Iceland poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A spotted cucumber beetle foraging on Iceland poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Diabolical Diabrotica

Some folks mistake the spotted cucumber beetle for a ladybug or lady beetle. However, unlike the beneficial ladybug, which devours aphids and other...

Spotted cucumber beetle and its path of destruction. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle and its path of destruction. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Flying Cucumber (Beetle)

You usually see them crawling around, but never about to fly.The Western spotted cucumber beetles (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) is one of California's...

Spotted cucumber beetles crawls along a tangerine leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetles crawls along a tangerine leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Antennae twitching rapidly, the spotted cucumber beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Antennae twitching rapidly, the spotted cucumber beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle lands, and then opens its wing covers preparing for flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle lands, and then opens its wing covers preparing for flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha!

It wasn't much of a fight.The assassin bug scored a TKO.Here's what happened: an assassin bug ambushed a spotted cucumber beetle in...

Predator and the prey: Assassin bug (left) corners a pest, a spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Predator and the prey: Assassin bug (left) corners a pest, a spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug stabs the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug stabs the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug wins. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug wins. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug dining on spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug dining on spotted cucumber beetle.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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