Leaf Beetle, Northern Corn Root-worm

If I could give a double negative, I would. But really, this is not the bug's fault. This insect is native to North America, but its numbers were allowed to explode through man's unbalanced planting of corn.

This insect causes farmers loss through the roots the larvae eats and damage above ground is caused by the adults feeding on the silks and leaves of the corn. But often the adults will feed on other plants. I've witnessed these bugs cover the front of sunflower heads and their feeding does not allow the sunflowers to go to seed. They readily go to any variety of these flowers, whether native or not, also eating the petals and pollen of Rose Mallow, Western Ironweed, Black-eyed Susans and others.

There is concern these agricultural pests are causing ... read moredamage to the sunflowers in tallgrass prairie remnants. Their feeding prevents bees and others from pollinating, thus no new seed is formed. For us, we are seeing this concern as we try to establish a small prairie on our property. We are surrounded by industrial crops of corn and beans.

Because I want no harm to come to the pollinators, I will not use any chemical means of control. So to pick off the bugs to squish, or shake the flower heads over a bucket of soapy water is time consuming, but it is what I do.

I have yet to learn what predators the adults have, so will keep researching and try to include that bit of info.

The young adults are almost tan in color, but will yellow, then turn a pale green and continue to dark green as they age.