Cottonwood Beetles 40D0026543

Cottonwood Leaf Beetle larvae (Chrysomela scripta)

Four Life Stages of the Cottonwood Leaf Beetle:

1. Overwintering adult beetles emerge from bark and leaf litter in the spring as buds on host plants begin to open. The beetles mate and lay clusters of 25 or more yellow, oval-shaped eggs on the underside of leaves.

2. After the eggs hatch, the small black larvae begin to feed by skeletonizing the leaves. The larvae feed gregariously during the early instars. As the larvae grow, they become lighter in color. Larval development is completed in under two weeks.

3. Mature larvae attach themselves upside-down to leaves and bark of their host or to weeds and grass underneath their host to pupate. The insect insect at the top left of the picture is a larva about to pupate.

4. Adults emerge five to ten days after pupating. There are two or more generations per year (more in the South).

More info: [link]

Thanks to the talented and friendly Doug for his identification. He has beautiful nature images!

Featured by the talented Luca in her "BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN NATURE" journal: [link] .