×
BugFinder Insects by State Spiders Butterflies & Moths Bees, Ants, & Wasps Beetles All Bugs Videos (YouTube)

Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema trilinea)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Three-lined Potato Beetle


Loading SVG image placeholder
1/1
Image Credit: James G. from Southfield, MI
Full-sized image of the Three-Lined-Potato-Beetle Thumbnail image of the Three-Lined-Potato-Beetle

The multicolored Three-lined Potato Beetle loves to eat a wide array of food plants making them a garden pest.



Updated: 02/16/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
This larvae of the Three-lined Potato Beetle feed on the leaves of potato plants, nightshades like peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes as well as tomatillos, the green 'tomatoes' used to make salsa verde. The larvae are grayish in color and are grub-like in form. Newly hatched Three-Lined Potato Beetles congregate on a food plant and eat its leaves until only the central veins remains. They secrete a frothy substance over themselves as they eat. Once the leaves of the plant have been completely devoured, the plant dies without bearing any edible vegetables.

Adults have red heads and black eyes. The red pronotum has two black dots on it. Yellow wing coverings have three black stripes on them. Their stripes resemble Striped Cucumber Beetles, but head colors are different and the potato beetle has a narrow 'waist' while the cucumber beetle does not. Three-lined Potato Beetles can be found in meadows, garden beds, or cultivated fields.

Females lay yellow eggs on leaves of a food plant. After hatching and eating the plant leaves, the larvae move to ground level and pupate in the soil, emerging as adults. Up to two generations can be produced a year, and adults can survive the winter. This makes the population growth somewhat rapid and amplifies their destructive effect on food plants.©InsectIdentification.org




Known Diet of the Three-Lined-Potato-Beetle



eggplant; pepper; potato; tomato; tomatillo
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.InsectIdentification.org. It is the product of hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, educators, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at InsectIdentification AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.


General Characteristics


Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers
Flying insect icon
Garden pest insect icon
Harmful insect icon
Pest insect icon
Striped or banded insect icon


Taxonomic Hierarchy


Species Breakdown
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Coleoptera
        Family: Chrysomelidae
View More
          Genus: Lema
View More
            Species: trilinea

Identifying Information


Size, Colors, Features
Scientific Name: Lema trilinea
Other Name(s): Potato Beetle; Potato Bug
Category: Beetle
Size (Adult; Length): 5mm to 8mm (0.19" to 0.31")
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: black; yellow; red; orange
Descriptors: striped; multicolored; flying; harmful; garden pest


Relative Size Comparison


Typical Size Between 5mm (0.2in) and 8mm (0.3in)
Lo: 5mm
Md: 6.5mm
Hi: 8mm

Territorial Map*


U.S., Canada, and Mexico
State of Alabama graphic
State of Arizona graphic
State of Arkansas graphic
State of California graphic
State of Colorado graphic
State of Delware graphic
State of Florida graphic
State of Georgia graphic
State of Idaho graphic
State of Illinois graphic
State of Indiana graphic
State of Iowa graphic
State of Kansas graphic
State of Kentucky graphic
State of Louisiana graphic
State of Maine graphic
State of Maryland graphic
State of Michigan graphic
State of Minnesota graphic
State of Mississippi graphic
State of Missouri graphic
State of Montana graphic
State of Nebraska graphic
State of Nevada graphic
State of New England graphic
State of New Jersey graphic
State of New Mexico graphic
State of New York graphic
State of North Carolina graphic
State of North Dakota graphic
State of Ohio graphic
State of Oklahoma graphic
State of Oregon graphic
State of Pennsylvania graphic
State of South Carolina graphic
State of South Dakota graphic
State of Tennessee graphic
State of Texas graphic
State of Utah graphic
State of Virginia graphic
State of Washington graphic
State of West Virginia graphic
State of Wisconsin graphic
State of Wyoming graphic
Canadian territory of Alberta graphic
Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic
Canadian territory of Manitoba graphic
Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic
Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic
Canadian territory of Ontario graphic
Canadian territory of Quebec graphic
Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic
Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico
Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic
Alaska  
Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Three-lined Potato Beetle may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Three-lined Potato Beetle. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
Site Disclaimer  |  Privacy Policy  |  Cookies  |  Sitemap
Beetle Identification Butterfly Identification Caterpillar Identification Spider ID Fungal Infections on Insects Nursery Web Spider Official State Insects Termite Basics Insect Molting Process Bugs of Tennessee House Centipede

2024 www.InsectIdentification.org • Content ©2006-2024 InsectIdentification.org • All Rights Reserved. The InsectIdentification.org logo, its written content, and watermarked photographs/imagery are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and is protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (regarding bites, etc...).Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. By submitting images to us (InsectIdentification.org) you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Site Disclaimer as it pertains to "User-Submitted Content". Images in JPG format are preferred with a minimum horizontal dimension of 1000px if possible. When emailing please include your location and the general estimated size of the specimen in question if possible. Please direct all inquiries and comments to insectidentification AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

©2024 www.InsectIdentification.org • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2006-2024 (18yrs)