THE LEAF EATERS - 2

(Spotted pink beetle, Length Approx. 5 mm)

March 15, 2021

Eggplant leaves damage became noticeable by mid-February 2021. These full-grown plants were bearing flowers, but fruits had not yet started to develop. Two small spotted beetles were observed, and I was wondering whether they were Lady beetles that eat insects. However, I observed that they were chewing an eggplant leaf during the daytime.

These beetles have fourteen (14) black spots on their reddish-pink body, when magnified it is a reddish-pink patch on the pale purplish-pink body. They are about 5mm long. Their eating pattern is different from that of the black beetles.

Unlike the black beetles, the spotted beetles break the surface of the leaf but do not eat portions of the leaf completely, therefore, a netlike pattern below the leaf surface remains.

Compared with the black beetles, these spotted beetles feed on leaves during the daytime. They move on to the shaded parts of the leaves or move to the underside of the leaves by noon when it’s sunny and hot on the top side of the leaf, which receives direct sunlight. Also, when rain falls on leaves, the spotted beetles move to the underside of the leaves.

Once the affected plant was relocated, the spotted beetles vanished. The remaining plants started bearing fruits.

After a few days, spotted beetle larvae were found on the relocated plant’s leaves. The larvae body is yellow. It feeds on the top surfaces of the leaves. Once again, a spotted beetle was observed on one of the remaining plants. After some time this beetle disappeared. It might be attacked by a babbler bird during the daytime. It was the last spotted pink beetle that I observed!

The images were captured as it was found happening in nature, and not enhanced using software. Images may be subject to copyright.