Striped Cucumber Beetle
(Calymma vittatum)
Notes: Measures about 1/4 inch long, featuring a bright yellow abdomen, a black head, and three distinct black stripes running down its wings.
Distribution: Highly concentrated in North America, with the striped cucumber beetle dominating east of the Rocky Mountains (from southern Canada down to Mexico).
Camera: iPhone 16 ProMax
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
The most dangerous trait of the Striped Cucumber Beetle is the transmission of bacterial wilt, a fatal plant disease (Erwinia tracheiphila). The beetles carry the bacteria and spread it through their feces or feeding, which can wipe out an entire patch of crops in a matter of weeks.
