Spotted Cucumber Beetles, Striped cucumber beetles, western striped cucumber beetle, southern corn rootworm, Western corn rootworm beetles

Acalymma spp., Diabrotica undecimpunctata

Physical Description:

RVGPS-158: little yellow beetles with stripes or spots (very much like a ladybug, but with yellow-green instead of red background). Striped cucumber beetles can overwinter in most parts of the US & Canada. A similar species, the western striped cucumber beetle is only found in the western states. It will feed on snap bean pods as well as seedlings of a variety of crops. The larval stage of the spotted cucumber beetle is the southern corn rootworm, which can cause serious damage to corn crops. Western corn rootworm beetles look similar to cucumber beetles but have yellow abdomens and shorter stripes on the wings.

Flea Beetles

Chrysomelidae family

Flea beetles, which are tiny black or brown-bronze beetles that jump like a flea, leave tiny holes or divets in the leaves. They seem to especially love eggplant leaves. Fruits, like eggplant, also get damaged with scarring from the flea beetles feeding. Productivity is also reduced because they love the new leaves, growing tips and flower buds. Since they are also a disease vector of some serious diseases, like bacterial wilt and early blight, they are important to keep in control.