Spotted cucumber beetle

Diabrotica undecimpunctata

The spotted cucumber beetle is a major agricultural pest insect of North America. In the adult form, it eats and damages leaves of many crops, including cucumbers, soybeans, cotton, beans, and many others.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi If you find this beetle in your garden, you can assume that it's up to no good as they are considered to be major pests. It may look innocent, and is often mistaken for a ladybug; but, unlike a ladybug, cucumber beetles are not at all beneficial. Rather, these beetles cause damage by feeding on roots, seedlings, flowers and foliage, and by transmitting disease. This cucumber beetle was yellowish green with twelve black spots on its elytra, and had a black head and black legs. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/56751/spotted_cucumber_beetle.html Diabrotica undecimpunctata,Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi,Geotagged,Spotted cucumber beetle,Summer,United States,beetle

Appearance

Adult beetles are greenish-yellow with six large black spots on each elytron. They are about 0.5 cm long. The larvae are yellowish and wormlike.

In the larval form, which is known as the southern corn rootworm, it tunnels through the roots of young plants, stunting or killing them. These native pests have a wide range of host plants, but will readily infest a field of crop plants, most notoriously corn.
spotted cucumber beetle on a yellow dahlia Diabrotica undecimpunctata,Geotagged,Spotted cucumber beetle,Summer,United States

Naming

The spotted cucumber beetle has three subspecies, each with a different common name;

D. u. howardi - spotted cucumber beetle
D. u. tenella - western cucumber beetle
D. u. undecimpunctata - western spotted cucumber beetle
Spotted Cucumber Beetle - Diabrotica undecimpunctata Habitat: Rural garden Diabrotica,Diabrotica undecimpunctata,Fall,Geotagged,Spotted cucumber beetle,United States,beetle

Distribution

It is found throughout southern Canada, continental USA, and the central highlands of Mexico.
Diabrotica undecimpunctata Spotted cucumber beetle on Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem Artichoke) Diabrotica undecimpunctata,Spotted cucumber beetle

Predators

Preyed upon by Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) and Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis).

References:

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http://ilacadofsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/088-17MS9424-print.pdf
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilyChrysomelidae
GenusDiabrotica
SpeciesD. undecimpunctata
Photographed in
United States of America