Threeline Potato Beetle – Lema trilinea

Threeline Potato Beetle – Lema trilinea   Scientific name: Lema trilinea Common name: Threeline potato beetle   Appearance: Threeline potato beetle is a red-headed beetle with black eyes. It features two black dots on the thorax with striped, yellow wings giving the name threeline potato beetle. It range in size from 7 to 8 mm in length and has grayish, grub-like larvae. The antennae are black, thick, and long, like regular beetles. Adult threeline potato beetle greatly resembles the spotted cucumber beetle, with the color of the head distinguishing both.   Host plants or food: Threeline potato beetle feeds on members of Solanaceae and nightshade families, such as potatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, and tomatoes.   Territory: Throughout North America and Central America   Mode of damage: Threeline potato beetles are exclusively leaf chewers and damage the plant by chewing rough, ragged holes in the host’s foliage.   Habits and life history   Threeline potato beetles have slug-like larvae that secrete and coat themselves in a slimy substance that protects them from predators. Female beetles lay orange-yellow eggs in clusters on the underside of the leaves. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the foliage and pupate in the soil. After overwintering as a pupa, it emerges as an adult in the spring. They can produce up to 2 generations per year.