About the Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata, the spotted cucumber beetle or southern corn rootworm, is a species of cucumber beetle that is native to North America. The species can be a major agricultural pest insect in North America. Spotted cucumber beetles cause damage to crops in the larval and adult stages of their life cycle. Larvae feed on the roots of the emerging plants, which causes the most damage since the young plants are more vulnerable. In the adult stage the beetles cause damage by eating the flowers, leaves, stems, and fruits of the plant. The beetles can also spread diseases such as bacterial wilt and mosaic virus.
The three primary types of cucumber beetles are the spotted cucumber beetle, the banded cucumber beetle (Diabrotica balteata), and the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum). In North America, the spotted and striped cucumber beetles are the most commonly encountered varieties.
The spotted cucumber beetle has three subspecies, each with a different common name: Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi – spotted cucumber beetle or southern corn rootworm Diabrotica undecimpunctata tenella – western cucumber beetle
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