Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Potato 28-spot ladybird beetle (255)


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Summary

  • Widespread distribution. Asia, South America, Oceania. Potato and others in the family, weeds. An important pest.
  • Eggs laid in batches on the underside of leaves. Whitish larvae with long dark-tipped branched spines. Adults orange with black spotted wing cases, and upper surface covered in short downy hairs.
  • Both adults and larvae graze both side of the leaves.
  • Natural enemies: parasitoid wasps are known, but not in the Pacific islands.
  • Cultural control: avoid overlapping crop or next to other crops that are alternative hosts, e.g., eggplant; handpick; weed; collect and burn trash after harvest. Chemical control: PDPs, ash (or ash + lime in water), derris, pyrethrum, chilli, or synthetic pyrethroids.

Common Name

Potato ladybird beetle, 28-spotted ladybird beetle, eggplant ladybird beetle (see Fact Sheet no. 58), Philippine ladybeetle.

Scientific Name

Epilachna species. Epilachna vigintioctopunctata; previously, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata.


AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Mani Mua
Information from CABI (2012) Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (hadda beetle) Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/21518); and from Ladybird beetles in World. PotatoPRO. Based on Kroschel J, et al. (2020) Insect pests affecting potatoes in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. In: Campos H, Ortiz O (eds.), The Potato Crop. (https://www.potatopro.com/about/ladybird-beetles). Photo 1 Merle Shepard, Gerald R.Carner, and P.A.C Ooi, Insects and their Natural Enemies Associated with Vegetables and Soybean in Southeast Asia, Bugwood.org

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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