May 31, 2020
#1622 - Aulocophora sp. - Pumpkin Beetle
Photos by Michelle Knight, in Blackall, Queensland. She wanted to know what was devouring her pumpkins.
Aulocophora is a large genus found in Africa, Asia and Australasia, but despite the common name their diet includes melons, gourds, cucumbers, and other curcubits. Adults eat the leaves, and the larvae burrow into the roots, and as you can probably guess they’re a serious pest. Most species are orange and black.