Epitrix cucumeris

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Epitrix cucumeris
Epitrix cucumeris - inat 71803435.jpg
Epitrix cucumeris, Oklahoma
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Tribe: Alticini
Genus: Epitrix
Species:
E. cucumeris
Binomial name
Epitrix cucumeris
(Harris, 1851)
Synonyms
  • Haltica cucumerisHarris, 1851
  • Haltica seminulumLeConte, 1861

Epitrix cucumeris, the potato flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. [1] [2] [3] It is a major pest of potatoes in North America. [4]

Contents

Distribution

It is native to North America [1] [5] and occurs widely in the Americas; [5] [4] it has also been introduced to the Azores [5] and the continental Europe (Portugal and Spain). [4] [6]

Description

Epitrix cucumeris is a small oval and convex beetle measuring 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) in length. It is difficult to distinguish from many other Epitrix without detailed examination. [4]

As a pest

It is a major pest of potatoes in North America, mostly damaging the foliage as adults. The larvae can sometimes damage the tubers. [4] It can also feed on many other Solanaceae species. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Epitrix cucumeris (Harris, 1851)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  2. "Epitrix cucumeris (Harris, 1851)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Epitrix cucumeris Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Eyre, Dominic; Giltrap, Neil (2013). "Epitrix flea beetles: new threats to potato production in Europe". Pest Management Science. 69 (1): 3–6. doi:10.1002/ps.3423. PMID   23169596.
  5. 1 2 3 Riley, Ed; Clark, S.; Seeno, T. (2003). Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico. Coleopterists Society. ISBN   9780972608718.
  6. "Epitrix cucumeris (EPIXCU)". EPPO Global Database. EPPO. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.

Further reading