The western striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma trivittatum) is found primarily west of the Rocky Mountains in North America, while its sister species, the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), is found to the east. Both are notoriously skilled at rapidly finding and aggregating on their preferred crops to feed. Females then lay eggs at the base of cucurbit plants below the soil surface. After hatching, larvae feed on roots, pupate in soil, and emerge as the next generation of adults. A female can lay up to 1,500 eggs over her lifetime. (Photo by Ian Grettenberger, Ph.D., originally published in Haber at al 2021, Journal of Integrated Pest Management)