Dr. S.K. Dutta & Dr. Badal Bhattacharyya Department of Entomology Assam Agricultural University,Jorhat-13 Identification, symptoms and nature of damage: beetles and wireworms

Epilachna Beetles: The adult beetle is medium sized (8-9 mm in length), yellowish brown globular insect bearing spots on the elytra The grubs are about 6 mm long, yellowish in colour and bear spines all over the body Identification: Fig. Grubs of Epilachna beetle Fig. Adults of Epilachna beetle Source: Source: /default/ct/116/crops Epilachna_vigintioctomaculata_en.htm

Symptoms: Scrapping of epidermis leading to skeletonised leaves Fig. Leaf skeletonization caused by Epilachna beetle Source:

Nature of Damage: Both adults and grubs feed on the upper surface of the leaves. They eat up regular areas of leaf tissue, leaving parallel bands of uneaten tissue in between The infested leaves are skeletonized which later turn brown, dry up and fall off Fig. Leaf skeletonization caused by Epilachna beetle Source: /mexican- bean-beetle.html Fig. Epilachna beetle Source: t/epilachna.html

Wireworms/ Click Beetle Wireworms are very thin, yellow, pink or orange worms (larvae) of click beetles. Young wireworms are initially white and about 1.5 mm long Adults are slender beetles whose appearance varies greatly according to the species Identification: Fig. Grub of wirewormFig. Adult of wireworm (click beetle ) Source:

Symptoms : Small feeding scars or feeding tunnels in potato tubers Fig. Wireworm infested potato plant Fig. Wireworm infested potato tuber Source : instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/pest_defects.html

Nature of Damage: The larvae (wireworms) damage potato by feeding primarily on tubers. The damage appears as straight, round holes with smooth walls Wireworm can also feed on young sprouts, underground stems and roots Wireworm infestation may also lead to secondary infection by soft rot disease Fig. Potato tuber infected with soft rot Source:h ttp://