Clavate Tortoise Beetle, Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius)

Figure 1.  Adult clavate tortoise beetle, Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius).  Credit: David Cappaert, www.forestryimages.org
Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius) is common and can be recognized easily by its general form and appearance. Written for Featured Creatures Collection by Robert E. Woodruff. Original publication date December 2006, revised August 2015. (Photo Credit: David Cappaert, www.forestryimages.org)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in710

Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle: A Pest of Cole Crops

igure 1. A young mustard plant being eaten by YMLB adults and larvae.The yellowmargined leaf beetle is a pest of cole or cruciferous crops that is native to South America. Since first reported in Mobile, Alabama, in 1947, the beetle has spread throughout the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida and up into Georgia and North Carolina. It has also been reported from Illinois and California. Not considered a major pest in conventionally grown cruciferous crops because it is susceptible to a wide range of insecticides, it poses a significant threat to the growing organic industry in the southeastern United States. It is a particular problem on Asian greens such as mizuna, mibuna, and napa cabbage, as well as on other high-value cruciferous crops like turnip, mustard, and watercress. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Elena M. Rhodes and and Oscar E. Liburd, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1049

Spotted cucumber beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Figure 1.  The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber. Credit: Photograph by James Castner, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida.Spotted cucumber beetle is a major agricultural pest of North America. Another name for the spotted cucumber beetle is “southern corn rootworm”. Many Diabrotica species cause damage to field crops, especially corn, making these beetles a major agricultural concern. Because of the subterranean nature of their larvae, these insects are hard and expensive to control. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran Kaur Gill, Gaurav Goyal, and Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1008

Tropical Soda Apple Leaf Beetle, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) (EENY543/IN974)

Figure 6. Reproductive adult (left) and adult in diapause (right) of Gratiana boliviana.Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America that is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. So a multi-agency program supported the rearing, distribution, and release of more than 250,000 tropical soda apple leaf beetles across Florida from 2003 to 2011. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Rodrigo Diaz, William A. Overholt, Ken Hibbard, and Julio Medal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in974

Air Potato Leaf Beetle (Suggested Common Name), Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) (EENY547/IN972)

Figure 2. Adult Lilioceris cheni.This leaf feeding beetle was recently introduced into Florida from China for biological control of air potato. This 4-page fact sheet provides information on the distribution, appearance, life cycle, host range and importance of the beetle. Written by Entomology and Nematology, and published by the UF Department of Ted D. Center and William A. Overholt, January 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in972

Alligatorweed flea beetle Agasicles hygrophila Selman and Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Halticinae) (EENY462/IN831)

Figure 2. Adult alligatorweed flea beetle, Agasicles hygrophila Selman and Vogt, on a damaged leaf. Note characteristic feeding scars.Alligatorweed is an aquatic weed native to South America that began threatening Florida’s waterways in the early 1900s. Alligatorweed flea beetles kill the plant by destroying its stored food and interfering with photosynthesis by removing leaf tissue. This insect has been an extremely effective biological control agent in coastal regions of the southeastern United States. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Ted D. Center, James P. Cuda, Michael J. Grodowitz, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in831

Cottonwood Leaf Beetle Chrysomela scripta Fabricius (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomela) (EENY519/IN936)

Figure 10. Life cycle of the cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta Fabricius.The cottonwood leaf beetle is one of the most economically-important pests of managed cottonwood, aspen, and some poplar and willow species. Often it is a severe pest of urban ornamental trees. This leaf feeder has several generations each year, may cause extensive leaf loss, and can consequently reduce stem volume up to 70%. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Amelio A. Chi and Russell F. Mizell III, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in936

EENY146/IN303 Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) and False Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa juncta (Germar) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Revised! EENY146, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by Richard L. Jacques, Jr. and Thomas R. Fasulo, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes these two species of potato beetles that are found in the eastern states — distribution, description, life cycle, hosts, Key to the Leptinotarsa spp. of Florida and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN303

EENY462/IN831 Alligatorweed flea beetle Agasicles hygrophila Selman and Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Halticinae)

EENY462, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Ted D. Center, James P. Cuda, and Michael J. Grodowitz, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this beetle that was the first insect ever studied for biological control of an aquatic weed — distribution, description, life cycle and biology, host, and economic importance. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN831