Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Galerucinae
Length: 4.5-6.5 mm
Members of the genus Acalymma have the third antennomere almost twice the length of the second, and nearly as long as the fourth.
Acalymma vittatum has a black head and scutellum, also black "knees" as seen in the photo at right.
Acalymma vittatum is not a welcome sight to those who raise Cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons). Not only do the adults kill the plants by consuming the stems and leaves, Acalymma vittatum also is vector for the Cucumber Wilt Disease.
Larvae feed on the underground parts of the plant, weakening it but not killing it.
A majority of sightings of the adult beetles in West Virginia come in May and June (Clark, 2000).
The Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, is also common in West Virginia.
 |
 |
