Epitrix cucumeris

{{Speciesbox

| image = Epitrix cucumeris - inat 71803435.jpg

| image_caption = Epitrix cucumeris, Oklahoma

| taxon = Epitrix cucumeris

| authority = (Harris, 1851)

| display_parents = 2

| synonyms =

Haltica cucumeris Harris, 1851
Haltica seminulum LeConte, 1861

}}

Epitrix cucumeris, the potato flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is a major pest of potatoes in North America.

Distribution

It is native to North America and occurs widely in the Americas; it has also been introduced to the Azores and the continental Europe (Portugal and Spain).{{cite web |url=https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/EPIXCU/distribution |title=Epitrix cucumeris (EPIXCU) |access-date=19 June 2018 |work=EPPO Global Database |date=30 May 2018 |publisher=EPPO}}

Description

Epitrix cucumeris is a small oval and convex beetle measuring {{cvt|1.5–2|mm}} in length. It is difficult to distinguish from many other Epitrix without detailed examination.

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. It can also feed on many other Solanaceae species.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite journal |last1=Eyre |first1=Dominic |last2=Giltrap |first2=Neil |title=Epitrix flea beetles: new threats to potato production in Europe |journal=Pest Management Science |date=2013 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=3–6 |doi=10.1002/ps.3423|pmid=23169596 }}

{{Cite book | title = Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico | date = 2003 | last1 = Riley | first1 = Ed | last2 = Clark | first2 = S. | last3 = Seeno | first3 = T. | publisher = Coleopterists Society | isbn = 9780972608718 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/330002#page/116/mode/1up }}

{{ITIS | title=Epitrix cucumeris (Harris, 1851) | id=720631| access-date=22 January 2025 }}

{{GBIF | title=Epitrix cucumeris (Harris, 1851) | id=1048258 | access-date=22 January 2025 }}

{{Cite web| title=Epitrix cucumeris Species Information

| url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/647159

| website=BugGuide.net

| access-date=22 January 2025

}}

Epitrix cucumeris

Distribution

Description

As a pest

References

Further reading