22[7] Aulacophora EIFS

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This leaflet is produced by the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, Solomon Islands, with support
from IPPSI: Improved Plant Protection in Solomon Islands, a project financed by ACIAR, the
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. Authors: Helen Tsatsia, MAL &
Grahame Jackson, TerraCircle Inc.

Extension Fact Sheet 40:

Red

pumpkin beetle

Common name: Plain or Red pumpkin
beetle

Scientific name: Aulacophora indica.

Hosts: It occurs on many crops in the pumpkin family: cucumber, melon, watermelon
and gourds. Similar species are pests of these plants in India, the Philippines, Japan
and Australia.

Damage

Adults (photo, right) feed on leaves, chewing large holes (photo, left). Seedlings are
particularly susceptible, and so are young plants after planting out. The damage to
young plants can delay crop maturity. Damage also occurs on flowers and small fruit.

The larvae damage roots, stems and fruits, but evidence of this has not been looked
for in Solomon Islands. Such damage allows entry of other organisms, for example,
fungi.

Biology and Life Cycle

The life cycle has been studied under the old name Aulacophora similis. Females lay
yellow, oval eggs singly or in batches in soil around the base of the host. After 5-15
days, they hatch, and the cream-white young (called larvae) burrow into the soil to
feed primarily on the roots. Four moults occur over 14-25 days, and then the larvae
enter the pupal stage in an earth chamber; this lasts another 7-20 days before the
adults emerge.

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Females lay up to 500 eggs, and live as long as 10 months. This means there are
several overlapping generations each year.

Detection and Inspection

Look for red oval beetles, about 8 mm long, on the leaves and flying between them.
They are often in groups on both young and old leaves. Look for the circles eaten by
the beetles, and the large holes in the leaves between the veins. Often, the groups of
beetles will attack the same leaf, leaving only the veins, before moving to other
leaves. Adults are strong fliers, and quickly take to the wing when disturbed.

A similarly coloured leaf beetle, Monolepta, has a dark area on the triangular piece at
the base of the wing cases. It also has smooth thorax - the part behind the head. By
contrast, Aulacophora has a groove across the thorax (this can be seen in photo,
right).

Management

There is little known about the natural control of these beetles. The beetles contain
chemicals that visual predators do not like, and are avoided by them. The bright
colours of this beetle warn predators that they are distasteful.

Resistant varieties:
• Fast growing varieties are more likely to outgrow the damage caused by the

beetles.

Cultural control:

• Avoid planting new crops next to those already infested with the beetles;
• Provide conditions for healthy plant growth, especially for seedlings; that may

include manures and/or commercial fertilizers, and adequate water;

• The beetles tend to group together feeding on some plants, leaving others; plant

extra seed to compensate for this;

• In the early morning or evening, it is possible to catch the beetles in flight; this is a

useful control method in small gardens. Perhaps a game for children!

• Clean up old fruit and plant stems.

Chemical control:
• Use synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, such as lambda cyhalothrin or permethrin.

The choice of chemical is important: use those that are least persistent in the
environment, and have low toxicity against bees. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE USING ANY PESTICIDE.

• Try wood ash: Add ½ cup of wood ash and ½ cup of lime in 4 liters water; leave

to stand or some hours; strain; test on few infested plants first to make adjustment
of the strength before going into large-scale spraying.