Striped Cucumber Beetle Acalymma vittatum F. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum F. (Figure 1) is a serious agricultural pest of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae in eastern North America. Crops affected by larval and adult feeding include cucumber, Cucumis sativus L., cantaloupe, Cucumis melo L., pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo L., and other Cucurbita spp. (Dill and Kirby 2016). The striped cucumber beetle is a vector of the plant disease bacterial wilt (Eaton 2016). Though the striped cucumber beetle occurs throughout Florida, it is the least commonly reported among three chrysomelid species on cucurbit crops in the state. The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, and banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, are more common in Florida, causing damage symptoms that are similar to striped cucumber feeding damage (Webb 2010). Includes: Introduction - Distribution - Description and Life Cycle - Damage - Monitoring - Management - Selected References. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1215 Also published at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/VEG/BEAN/striped_cucumber_beetle.html