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Species
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, 1824
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Vast amounts of information is available for Leptinotarsa decemlineata because of its status as a major pest insect. The information provided here is a general introduction to the biology of Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Further information can be found using the references listed here and the many studies cited within those references.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
Currently, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle, is distributed widely throughout North America east of the Rockies as well as some of Europe and Asia. Its distribution covers about 8 million km² in the Nearctic Region and about 6 million km² in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. Originally, Leptinotarsa decemlineata was found in the southwestern United States into Mexico. As potatoes were extensively planted for agriculture, the species spread into agricultural areas throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It is predicted that Leptinotarsa decemlineata could occupy other regions including Korea, Japan, parts of Africa, and most of the temperate Southern Hemisphere.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Introduced ); oriental (Introduced ); neotropical (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: holarctic
- Alyokhin, A. 2008. "Colorado Potato Beetle Biology and Management" (On-line). PotatoBeetle.org. Accessed July 15, 2012 at http://www.potatobeetle.org/overview.html.
- Alyokhin, A., M. Baker, D. Mota-Sanchez, G. Dively, E. Grafius. 2008. Colorado potato beetle resistance to insecticides. American Journal of Potato Research, 85: 395-413.
- Jolivet, P. 1991. The Colorado beetle menaces Asia (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) (Col. Chrysomelidae). L'Entomologiste, 47: 29-48.
- Vlasova, V. 1978. A prediction of the distribution of Colorado beetle in the Asiatic territory of the USSR. Zaschita Rastenii, 6: 44-45.
- Worner, S. 1988. Ecoclimatic assessment of potential establishment of exotic pests. Journal of Economic Entomology, 81: 973-983.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
Leptinotarsa decemlineata has the physical features typical of chrysomelid beetles such as 5-5-5 tarsi, an oval shape, and antennae shorter than the body. Adults can reach anywhere from 8 to 10 mm and have five bold, brown stripes along each elytron. The thorax has an intricate pattern of black spots on top of a deep orange complexion. Larvae typically have a row of black spots down the side of the abdomen, which is convex and very stout (large and plump) compared to the rest of the body. Eggs resemble footballs with an orange/yellow color. They are about 1.7 to 1.8 mm long and 0.8 mm wide. The dorsal and ventral surfaces are distinctly non-parallel and deep red in color.
Range length: 8 to 10 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
- University of Kentucky, 2010. "Colorado Potato Beetle Management" (On-line). UK Entomology. Accessed July 15, 2012 at http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef312.asp.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
Leptinotarsa decemlineata is considered one of the most serious pests and agricultural defoliators. The Colorado potato beetle causes significant damage to agricultural plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, and, of course, potatoes. Both larvae and adults feed on the foliage of host plants, skeletonizing the plant, leaving only roots and stems. Because of such devastation, insecticides have been implemented to decrease the destruction that Leptinotarsa decemlineata has on agricultural production, costing farmers millions of dollars each year. This species has been a huge pest problem throughout the country and is a problem annually for farmers. With such heavy insecticide use, populations of this species have developed resistance to nearly all classes of chemicals used as insecticides. It is estimated that this resistance costs growers between $44 and $69 per hectare each year, but no good alternatives are currently available.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
The Colorado potato beetle is found mostly in farm fields that specialize in growing agricultural crops in the family Solanaceae, such as potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, eggplants and peppers. It can also be found on non-agricultural solanaceous plants in open grassland areas.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland
Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural
- Casagrande, R. 1987. The Colorado potato beetle: 125 years of mismanagement. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, 33: 142-150.
- Kramer, M., D. Weber, Z. Szendrei. 2009. Habiat manipulation in potato affects Colorado potato beetle dispersal. Journal of Applied Entomology, 133: 711-719.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
There are no known positive effects of Leptinotarsa decemlineata on humans.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |
Leptinotarsa decemlineata feeds primarily on Solanum plants, skeletonizing the plant and leaving only the roots and stems. The most suitable host for L. decemlineata is now the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum, thus the beetle's common name of the Colorado potato beetle. Other suitable hosts include Solanum rostratum and Solanum augustifolium, the insect's original hosts. A European species now widely distributed in North America, Solanum dulcamara is also commonly used in the wild. Solanum melongena (eggplant), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), peppers, tobacco, and other wild hosts such as S. carolinense, S. sarrachoides, S. elaeagnifolium, and Hyoscyamus niger are utilized occasionally.
Plant Foods: leaves
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
- Fernandez, P., M. Hilker. 2007. Host plant location by Chrysomelidae. Basic and Applied Ecology, 8: 97-116.
- Hamilton, G., J. Lashomb. 1996. Comparison of conventional and biological control intensive pest management programs on eggplant in New Jersey. Florida Entomologist, 79: 488-496.
- Hare, J. 1990. Ecology and management of the Colorado potato beetle. Annual Review of Entomology, 35: 81-100.
- Hitchner, E., T. Kuhar, J. Dickens, R. Youngman, P. Schultz, D. Pfeiffer. 2008. Host plant choice experiments of Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Virginia. Journal of Economic Entomology, 101: 859-865.
- Hough-Goldstein, J., G. Heimpel, H. Bechmann, C. Mason. 1993. Arthropod natural enemies of the Colorado potato beetle. Crop Protection, 12: 324-334.
- Mitchell, B., R. Low. 1994. The structure of feeding behavior in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Insect Behavior, 7: 707-29.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Leptinotarsa_decemlineata/ |