# Three-lined Potato Beetle (*Lema daturaphila*) The Three-lined Potato Beetle is a small, colorful bug that loves to munch on potato plants. With its bright yellow body and three black stripes, it's easy to spot in gardens! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens, Farms ![Three-lined Potato Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lema_daturaphila1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ibsut, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lema_daturaphila1.jpg) ## Appearance The Three-lined Potato Beetle is a slender, elongated beetle, typically yellowish-orange to reddish-brown in color. It has three distinctive thin black stripes running lengthwise down its wing covers (elytra). Its head is dark or black, and its antennae are short and also black, differentiating it from similar-looking beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Chrysomelidae - **Genus:** Lema ## Interesting facts - These beetles got their scientific name for loving Jimsonweed (Datura), a plant even more than potatoes! - Unlike the more famous Colorado potato beetle, these beetles have thin stripes, not chunky spots. - When startled, adult beetles often "play dead" by dropping off plants to escape danger. What a trick! - Young beetles, called larvae, wear a shield made of their own poop to deter predators! Gross, but effective! ## Special abilities - **Defense Shield:** Three-lined Potato Beetle larvae can cover themselves in their own waste (frass) because this foul-smelling shield deters predators. - **Toxic Eater:** Three-lined Potato Beetles can eat toxic leaves from plants like jimsonweed because they have special enzymes to safely digest harmful compounds. - **Rapid Reproduction:** This beetle can lay many eggs quickly because it helps them rapidly increase their numbers in new host plant areas. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 6-9 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They munch on leaves, especially from potato and tomato plants! - **Age differences:** Larvae and adults both feed on the same host plants. - **Primary Foods:** Potato leaves, Tomato leaves, Eggplant leaves, Jimsonweed leaves, Groundcherry leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Potato](https://www.snappit.app/explore/potato) (*Solanum tuberosum*) — Adults and larvae feed on potato plant leaves. - **Eats:** [Tomato](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tomato) (*Solanum lycopersicum*) — Adults and larvae feed on tomato plant leaves. - **Eats:** Seven-spotted Ladybug (*Coccinella septempunctata*) — Ladybug larvae and adults can prey on its eggs. - **Eats:** [Jimsonweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jimsonweed) (*Datura stramonium*) — It feeds on leaves of this toxic plant species. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of 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. - [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 It's best to look at beetles without touching them, as some can be a little shy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Three-lined Potato 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 Three-lined Potato Beetle? 6-9 mm ### How long does Three-lined Potato Beetle live? 60-120 days ### What does Three-lined Potato Beetle eat? They munch on leaves, especially from potato and tomato plants! ### Where is Three-lined Potato Beetle usually found? Urban areas, Gardens, Farms ### How does Three-lined Potato Beetle hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Three-lined Potato Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Ruth Bancroft Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ruth-bancroft-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [East Over Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-over-reservation) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Montgomery Street-Columbus Circle Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/montgomery-street-columbus-circle-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Onondaga Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/onondaga-park) — New York, US · Park [View all places to see Three-lined Potato Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/three-lined-potato-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: [Three-lined Potato Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-lined-potato-beetle)