Epilachninae

Adults resemble other lady beetles in general body form but can be difficult to identify to species based on external markings alone, as elytral patterns vary considerably within species and may be nearly identical between unrelated species. Reliable identification requires examination of male genitalia or study of eggs and larvae, which are often more distinctive than adults. Eggs are yellow, two to three times longer than wide, standing erect in batches on leaf surfaces; microscopically they differ from most other coccinellid eggs in having a definite reticular pattern of sculpting on the chorion rather than a smooth surface. Larvae are distinguished by bands of spiny projections covering the body, in contrast to the smooth or only lightly setose larvae of predatory Coccinellidae.

Occurs in diverse habitats where host plants grow, including agricultural fields, gardens, and natural vegetation. Species show adaptability to different regions and climates where their host plants occur.

Worldwide distribution with native ranges in Asia, Africa, and the Americas; several species have been introduced to new regions. Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, native to India and southeastern Asia, has established in South America including Brazil and Argentina. The subfamily is taxonomically most diverse in the tropics and subtropics.

Activity patterns vary by species and region. Many species have one or two generations per year. Some univoltine or bivoltine species migrate to high points on ridges or peaks to hibernate or aestivate in masses. In central-western Mexico, Epilachna difficilis occurs from mid-August to early December.

Exclusively herbivorous; adults and larvae feed on plant leaves. Most species are monophagous or narrowly oligophagous. Adults typically feed on the upper surface of leaves, while larvae feed on the lower surface. Feeding involves scraping one face of the leaf, leaving larger veins and the far face epidermis largely intact. Host plants include species in Solanaceae (eggplant, tomato, potato, tobacco, nightshades), Cucurbitaceae (cucumber, squash, melons), Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae (beans, soybean), Malvaceae (cotton), and other families. Some species feed on maize and spinach.

• Solanum melongena - hosteggplant
• Solanum lycopersicum - hosttomato
• Solanum tuberosum - hostpotato
• Nicotiana tabacum - hosttobacco
• Physalis angulata - host
• Cucumis sativus - hostcucumber
• Cucurbita - hostsquash
• Glycine max - hostsoybean
• Phaseolus vulgaris - hostcommon bean
• Zea mays - hostmaize
• Spinacia oleracea - hostspinach
• Gossypium - hostcotton
• Brassica - host
• Bonplandia geminiflora - hostPolemoniaceae

Eggs are laid in batches of a few dozen on leaf surfaces; a single female may lay a few hundred eggs. Larvae pass through five instars over four to five weeks. Larvae anchor themselves to a protected spot on the plant to pupate. The pupal stage lasts several days. Complete life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 37-38 days under laboratory conditions for some species. Many species have one or two generations per year.

Adults and larvae feed gregariously on host plant leaves. Adults fly between host plants. Some species migrate tens of kilometers to high points on ridges or peaks to hibernate or aestivate in masses. Males of some species show unilateral mate choice, preferring conspecific females. Females of some species show fastidiousness at mating, rejecting heterospecific males. Feeding behavior produces characteristic damage marks on leaves; for example, maize-feeding species produce long streaks parallel to leaf veins, while Solanaceae-feeding species leave arcs of skeletonized leaf.

Herbivores that can cause significant defoliation of host plants, with damage ranging from 38% to over 98% of leaf area in some cases. Serve as prey for various natural enemies including parasitoid wasps that attack eggs or larvae, and predatory Pentatomidae and Reduviidae that attack larvae. Some species have been investigated as potential biological control agents for pest thistles.

Several species are significant agricultural pests causing locally serious crop losses, particularly in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae crops. Notable pest species include the Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) and squash lady beetle (Epilachna borealis) in North America, and the 28-spotted ladybird beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) which has become invasive in South America. Control strategies must consider that insecticides often kill natural enemies and that infestations may respond poorly to pesticides; integrated pest management approaches are recommended. Some species are considered beneficial as potential biological controls of pest weeds such as thistles.

• CoccinellinaeOther lady beetle subfamily containing predatory species; adults superficially similar in appearance but differ in biology and larval morphology. Coccinellinae larvae are smooth or lightly setose, not covered with spiny projections. Epilachninae can be distinguished by herbivorous mouthparts and feeding damage on plants.
• ChrysomelidaeLeaf beetle family containing many herbivorous species that feed on similar host plants and may be confused in the field. Epilachninae can be distinguished by the typical coccinellid body form, geniculate antennae with clubbed tips, and larval morphology with spiny projections.

• herbivorous
• agricultural pest
• leaf-feeding
• Coccinellidae
• phytophagous
• invasive species
• Solanaceae
• Cucurbitaceae
• integrated pest management

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Coccinelidae | Beetles In The Bush
• Bibliography | Beetles In The Bush
• The Biology and external Morphology of the Larvae of Epilachninae (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)
• Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae) Attacking Cultivated and Wild Crops in Brazil
• Unilateral Mate Choice Causes Bilateral Behavioral Isolation Between Two Closely Related Phytophagous Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae)
• The Behavior and Feeding Preference of the 12-Spotted Beetle Epilachna indica MULSTANT (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Subfamily Epilachninae) Towards the Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum (Family: Solanacea)
• The Behavior and Feeding Preference of the 12-Spotted Beetle Epilachna indica MULSTANT (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Subfamily Epilachninae) Towards the Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum (Family: Solanacea)
• Molecular population genetics of a host-associated sibling species complex of phytophagous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae)
• Bioecología de Epilachna Difficilis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae) En El Centro-Occidente de México
• Reinventing the spermatheca: unveiling a novel sperm storage organ in Epilachninae ladybirds.