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Lilioceris cheni
The Air Potato Leaf Beetle (Lilioceris cheni) in an introduced species used as a biological control for Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). Air Potato was introduced to the state of Florida in 1905 and has become an aggressive invasive exotic plant that displaces native species.
Anywhere Air Potato has infested. This beetle species is native to Asia.
Species was first introduced in Florida in 2012 with the first noted release in Hillsborough County Florida in 2013. This is the first time this species has been spotted at this site where invasive Air Potato vine is present.
1 Comment
This beatle is a China biotype. Exist another kind of beatle from Nepal. The difference beetwen them is that the Nepal one is yellow :) I love them!