Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What insect is this? > Garden Pests > Beetles, bugs, ants, and other insects without obvious wings - 1/4 inch - 1/2 inch long > Three-lined potato beetle
Three-lined potato beetle
Lema daturaphila
Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension
Brenda Postels, University of Minnesota Extension
Description: 1/4 - 5/16 inch long.
Head and prothorax (area behind the head) are reddish-orange with two black dots. Wing covers are cream colored to orange-yellow with three black stripes running down lengthwise.
Where/When: Feeds on tomatillos, potatoes, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Active from May through August.
Significance: Usually occurs in low numbers and is not considered a pest although it may become numerous in localized sites.
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