Pigeonpea and Chickpea Insect Identification Handbook - Agropedia

O t h e r Leaf- a n d F l o w e r - d a m a g i n g Beetles
Cheilomenes s p p Luperus s p p
Epilachna s p p Monolepta s p p
( C o I e o p t e r a : Podagrica s p p
C o c c i n e l l i d a e ) ( C o l e o p t e r a :
C h r y s o m e l i d a e )
Oxycetonia versicolor F. Holotrichia s p p
( C o l e o p t e r a : C e t o n i d a e ) Adoretus s p p
( C o l e o p t e r a :
S c a r a b a e i d a e )
D i s t r i b u t i o n . A d u l t beetles of several genera o t h e r t h a n
weevils, also feed on p i g e o n p e a leaves in India and in
Africa. A few of these have been listed above.
S y m p t o m s . Leaves are eaten. S o m e of the beetles are
not seen on the leaves because they feed o n l y at night and
hide during the day.
D e s c r i p t i o n a n d b i o l o g y . T h e c o c c i n e l l i d s , c o m m o n l y
referred to as ladybird beetles, are small and usually
b r i g h t l y c o l o r e d w i t h dark spots. T h e Epilachna spp are
herbivorous, but Cheilomenes spp n y m p h s and adults are
p r e d a t o r y on small insects i n c l u d i n g a phids. However, in
the absence of their prey, Cheilomenes spp adults c h e w
holes in leaves, possibly to o b t a i n moisture. T h e c h r y s o -
melids are generally shiny, metallic beetles; Podagricaspp
are flea beetles, so called because they j u m p . Oxycetonia
versicolor (Fig. 37), a brilliantly c o l o r e d and dorsally flattened
beetle w i t h a large s c u t e l l u m feeds on p o l l e n . H o l o -
trichia (Lachnosterna) s p p are larger beetles, a n d are
i m p o r t a n t because their larvae (white g r u b s ) c o n s i d e r a b l y
damage a range of c r o p s by feeding on their roots. A d o r e -
tus spp are brightly c o l o r e d , shiny beetles, w h o s e larvae
feed on roots.
C o n t r o l . These beetles are s e l d o m present in p o p u l a -
tions large e n o u g h t o cause extensive d a m a g e t o p i g e o n -
pea and so do not merit specific c o n t r o l measures.
42