Air Potato Leaf Beetle

Description:

I fell in love with this little red beetle that was devastating the wild air potato plants growing in my yard. The air potato plants are an invasive species found throughout Florida, and the beetles were introduced in 2012 by biologists in Florida to help control the spread of the air potato. Take a look at the reference link for more info.

Habitat:

The beetle only attacks Air Potato

Notes:

The life cycle of the beetle begins when the female lays eggs on the underside of air potato leaves. Females lay an average of 1800 eggs but in some cases up to 4300. After four days, eggs hatch and larvae begin feeding in aggregations. When fully grown, larvae descend to the soil where they produce an oral secretion that hardens into a foam-like cocoon. Adults emerge after 12 to 16 days, and can live for five months or longer. The life cycle from egg to adult takes 30 days at 77o F. Both adults and larvae feed on the foliage of air potato