Potato Flea Beetle
Epitrix cucumeris
This record describes Epitrix cucumeris (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Galerucinae
- Tribe
- Alticini
- Genus
- Epitrix (Nightshade Flea Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widespread across North America except west coast & Pacific Northwest. - Map , mostly ne NA to the Miss. R. State/Province Records: Previous records from AB, BC/CA, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA as well as Mexico, Central America, South America, and West Indies are considered suspect by .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Main host plants are Solanaceae. The species has been reported from Atropa belladonna, Capsicum annuum, Datura stramonium, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotiana tabacum, Petunia x hybrida, Petunia nyctaginiflora, Physalis alkekengi (Japanese lantern), Physalis angulata, Physalis peruviana, Physalis pubescens, Physalis virginiana, Solanum americanum, Solanum burbankii (wonderberry), Solanum carolinense, Solanum dulcamara, Solanum melongena, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Solanum purpureum, Solanum rostratum, Solanum torvum, and Solanum tuberosum (potato). ( 3 ) Many other host associations can be found in the literature, but many are questionable. See ( 3 ) for a more detailed treatment.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Epitrix cucumeris. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Potato Flea Beetle (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by ADeczynski; Additional contributions by Bbarnd , Mike Quinn , Ted Kropiewnicki , v belov , KenW