Though native to the Rocky Mountains, this pest long ago spread to all other parts of the United States except California and Nevada. The 3/8-inch long adult beetle is easy to spot: the showy polka-dot vest and striped pants are dead giveaways. The small, red-humped nymphs have articulated legs and rows of dark spots along both sides. Both adult beetles and nymphs denude plants, leaving black excrement as testament to their gluttony.
Colorado Potato Beetle
