Division of Arthropods
open weekdays 8am - 5pm
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Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Photo by D.C. Lightfoot
Hexapoda, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Diabrotica undecimpunctata
Description: Small oval yellow-green beetle with black spots on the wing covers, females and males look similar. No similar looking spotted beetle in New Mexico.
Geographic Distribution: Throughout New Mexico. Native.
Habitats: Yards, gardens and open areas with herbaceous plants and flowers. Adults live and feed on the leaves and flowers of many herbaceous plants. Larvae live in the soil and feed on plant roots.
Biology: Adults occur throughout the summer, larvae are present on plant roots during the summer.
Health/pest Status: Pests of many garden plants. The adults eat leaves and flowers of beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, etc.