Striped Cucumber Bettle – Acalymma vittata

Striped Cucumber Beetle – Acalymma vittata   Scientific name: Acalymma vittata Common name: Striped cucumber beetle   Appearance: Striped cucumber beetle has a brown head, bright yellow prothorax, and black abdomen. The tough forewings or the elytra are also yellow with black stripes running across, hence called striped cucumber beetle. They are approximately 5.25 mm long and greatly resemble the western corn rootworm. Their larval forms are white with 3 pairs of legs and grow up to 9.5 mm long.   Host plants or food: Striped cucumber beetle feed on cucurbits, namely cantaloupe, cucumber, and pumpkins, hence the name.   Territory: Throughout North America, from Mexico to Southern Canada   Mode of damage: Striped cucumber beetles have chewing mouthparts, which help them chew into leaves, roots, fruits, flowers, and stems. While the adult can feed on any part of the plant, the larvae are exclusively root chewers.   Habits and life history   Female striped cucumber beetles lay up to 4 eggs per day in small clusters under the stem near the soil. This gives rise to larvae that move under the soil to feed on the roots and emerge as adults. The larvae convert into pupa first, which are long, slender, worm-like, and taper into a narrow point on the distal ends. They overwinter under organic plant debris and appear as adults during favorable Spring conditions. Adult striped cucumber beetles emerge in spring when soil temperatures reach 13°C (55°F) and feed. It produces 1 to 3 generations per year.