1. 1. Hadda beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Species complex
E. vigintioctopuntata E. ocellata
Distribution: Throughout India.
Host Range: Potato, tomato, brinjal, datura, many other Solanum sp. and occasionally on cucurbits.
Nature of damage and symptoms:
E. ocellata causes severe damage to the potato crop in the higher hilly regions of India, whereas, E. vigintioctopunctata is restricted to plains and mid-hills.
Both the adults and grubs voraciously feed on the leaves by scrapping the chlorophyll resulting in skeletonizing of foliage.
The leaves present a lace like appearance; turn brown, dries up and fall off.
In the years of severe attack, the crop gets completely defoliated.
Identification:
Eggs are elongate yellow coloured.
The grubs are about 6 mm, yellow, with six rows branched spines.
Beetles measure about 8 to 9 mm in length and 5 to 6mm in breadth.
E. vigintioctopunctata beetles are deep copper coloured having 14 black spots on each elytron, whereas E. ocellata have 6 spots on each elytron.
Hadda beetle eggs Grub of Hadda beetle
Life cycle:
The incubation period is 2- 3days
Larval period is 14-18 days
Pre-pupal period is 1-2 days
Pupal period 4-5 days.
Pre-oviposition period is 5-6 days
Oviposition period is about 40-50 days
Post-oviposition period is 10 days
Adult longevity is 60-65 days (male) and 65-70 days (female)
Several generations from March to October.
Figure: Life cycle of hadda beetles