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Author: Stephanie Libby
Species: Popillia punctata (Linne)
Common name: Grapevine Beetle
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Identification
Pelidnota punctata (Linne) looks very similar to the June beetle, but can be distinguished by its coloration. P. punctata is about 17-25 mm or larger in length and has a yellowish color with three distinctive black spots on each elytran (Borror et. al., 1981). This beetle is robust, convex, and shinning with black occiput on its head.
The adults are found particularly on both wild and cultivated grapes while the larvae inhabit the decaying stumps and roots of various trees (Dillon and Dillon, 1972). At this time, the other stages of P. punctata's life are either not known or are unavailable.
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North America |
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Dillon and Dillon, 1972 |
Eastern North America |
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Dillon and Dillon, 1972 |
Georgia |
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Sam's Farm |
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Stephanie Libby, Pers. obs. |
Natural History
P. punctata is a common, widely distributed species of the Eastern United States. The larvae of P. punctata are called white grubs, and live in decaying wood. The adults grow to 17-25 mm and feed on grapevines.
More detailed information concerning this species is curently not available or is difficult to obtain. Surprisingly, this species was not encountered in the field studies conducted in this project.
References
Borror, Donald J., Dwight M. De Long, and Charles A. Triplehorn. 1981. An Introduction to the Study of Insects. CBS College Publishing, Philadelphia.
Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Lawrence S. Dillon. 1972. A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America, Dover Publications, Inc, New York.
White, Richard E. 1983. A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
Leconte, John L. and George H. Horn. 1883. Coleoptera of North America. Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
Jaques, H.E. 1951. How to Know the Beetles. WM. C. Brown Company, Dubuque, Iowa.
Crowson, R.A. 1967. The Natural Classification of the Families of Coleoptera. E. W. Classey LTD., Middlesex, England.