Posts Tagged: Diabrotica undecimpunctata

A Case of Mistaken Identity

"Ah, look at that cute little yellow ladybug! Isn't it pretty?" How many times have you heard that? Often it is not the beneficial lady beetle--commonly referred to as a ladybug--but that dratted pest, the spotted cucumber beetle. In a case last week,...

A spotted cucumber beetle foraging on Iceland poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A spotted cucumber beetle foraging on Iceland poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Diabolical Diabrotica

Some folks mistake the spotted cucumber beetle for a ladybug or lady beetle. However, unlike the beneficial ladybug, which devours aphids and other soft-bodied insects, the spotted cucumber beetle is a major agricultural pest. The adults,...

Spotted cucumber beetle and its path of destruction. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle and its path of destruction. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Flying Cucumber (Beetle)

You usually see them crawling around, but never about to fly.The Western spotted cucumber beetles (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) is one of California's most common insects. And though quite attractive in coloring, it's a major agricultural pest."Come in,...

Spotted cucumber beetles crawls along a tangerine leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetles crawls along a tangerine leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Antennae twitching rapidly, the spotted cucumber beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Antennae twitching rapidly, the spotted cucumber beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle lands, and then opens its wing covers preparing for flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle lands, and then opens its wing covers preparing for flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha!

It wasn't much of a fight.The assassin bug scored a TKO.Here's what happened: an assassin bug ambushed a spotted cucumber beetle in the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Faciility on Bee Biology Road, UC...

Predator and the prey: Assassin bug (left) corners a pest, a spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Predator and the prey: Assassin bug (left) corners a pest, a spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug stabs the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug stabs the spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug wins. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug wins. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug dining on spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Assassin bug dining on spotted cucumber beetle.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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