228 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



THE WESTERN TWELVE-SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLE. 



Diahrutka suror Lee. (Family Chrysomelidae) . 

 (Fig. 227.) 



General Appearance. — A small green black-spotted beetle about the 

 size of, and often mistaken by farmers for a ladybird beetle. The 

 ventral surface is entirely black. The larvae are white and subter- 

 ranean in habits, so are seldom met with. 



Life History. — The eggs are laid in early spring around the bases 



Fig. 227. — The work of the western twelve-spotted 

 cucumber beetle (Diabrotica soror Lee.) on orange 

 leaves. (After Quayle. Courtesy Cal. Exp. Sta. ) 



of the food plants from one half to one fourth of an inch under the 

 ground. They hatch quickly and the white grubs begin feeding upon 

 the roots. The pupal cells are made near the surface and in about 

 two weeks the adult beetles emerge. The broods overlap throughout 

 the summer, there being two distinct generations. The adults hiber- 

 nate during the winter. 



