# Spotted Cucumber Beetle (*Diabrotica undecimpunctata*) The Spotted Cucumber Beetle is a small, colorful bug with bright yellow-green skin and black spots. They love to munch on plants, especially cucumbers, making them easy to spot in gardens! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 62 - **Habitat:** Gardens - **Also known as:** Cucumber Beetle, Spotted Beetle ![Spotted Cucumber Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spotted_cucumber_beetle_%2872669%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spotted_cucumber_beetle_%2872669%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted Cucumber Beetle has a bright greenish-yellow body with eleven distinctive black spots arranged on its wing covers. Its head and legs are typically black. This beetle's slender shape and vibrant spotted pattern make it stand out from other garden insects. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Chrysomelidae - **Genus:** Diabrotica ## Interesting facts - Even with 'cucumber' in their name, they love over 200 different plant types! - Their hungry larvae, called corn rootworms, live underground and munch on plant roots! - These beetles lay hundreds of tiny eggs hidden in the soil near their favorite plants! - They are speedy eaters and can cause serious damage to farmers' crops very quickly! ## Special abilities - **Hardy Armor:** Spotted Cucumber Beetles have a super strong exoskeleton that helps them protect their soft bodies from bumps and predators. - **Plant Eater Power:** Spotted Cucumber Beetles can munch through plant leaves and roots because of their strong jaws, helping them get vital nutrients. - **Flight Navigator:** Spotted Cucumber Beetles can fly swiftly because of their powerful wings, helping them travel far to find new food sources. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 5-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These beetles eat leaves, flowers, and fruits, while their larvae feast on roots underground. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat roots underground, while adults feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits above ground. - **Primary Foods:** Cucumber plants, Squash plants, Corn plants, Bean plants, Melon plants, Pea plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Cucumber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cucumber) (*Cucumis sativus*) — Adults and larvae feast on the leaves and roots. - **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — Larvae cause significant damage to corn roots. - **Eats:** [Squash](https://www.snappit.app/explore/squash) (*Cucurbita pepo*) — They chew holes in leaves and damage fruits. - **Eaten by:** Spined Soldier Bug (*Podisus maculiventris*) — This predatory bug will feed on beetle larvae and eggs. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch beetles without asking an adult, as some bugs can bite. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted Cucumber Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Spotted Cucumber Beetle? 5-8 mm ### How long does Spotted Cucumber Beetle live? 30-90 days ### What does Spotted Cucumber Beetle eat? These beetles eat leaves, flowers, and fruits, while their larvae feast on roots underground. ### Where is Spotted Cucumber Beetle usually found? Gardens ### How does Spotted Cucumber Beetle hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Spotted Cucumber Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Spotted Cucumber Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spotted-cucumber-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Spotted Cucumber Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-cucumber-beetle)