Colorado potato beetle

Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Found throughout Europe, Asia and Central and North America
Attacks eggplant, capsicums, tomatoes and potato
Adult beetles are about 1 cm in length and larvae are bright red with a black head when young, changing to an orange colour before pupation
Both adults and larvae feed on leaves and stems, leaving sticky black excrement
Leaf defoliation is the most obvious symptom
Adults can fly up to 160 km but can also be spread with plant material or on farm machinery

High priority pest of: Potatoes

Scientific name: Leptinotarsa decemlineata
EPPRD Category: 3
Life Form: Beetles & weevils (COLEOPTERA)