Sunflower beetle.

[Trent Watts]

While photographing insects in the local community garden I noticed one sunflower plant that had leaves badly chewed into a lice like mess.
On closer examination I saw tiny larvae sitting among the soon to open flowers. It is mostly likely a Sunflower Beetle as near as my source can say.

Larvae buried into the folds of the leaves.

Close up of the larvae and mouth parts.

 

[AlanLichty]

Voracious little suckers. That's some serious consumption.

Bummer to have them as an infestation. I looked them up and ran into this quote on a gardening site:

....sunflower beetles are specific to Helianthus. They are the most damaging defoliator of sunflowers in North America.

 

[Trent Watts]

Voracious little suckers. That's some serious consumption.

Bummer to have them as an infestation. I looked them up and ran into this quote on a gardening site:

....sunflower beetles are specific to Helianthus. They are the most damaging defoliator of sunflowers in North America.

Thanks Alan. BugGuide suggested I keep some and hatch them to see what the adults look like. Not sure I’ll do that but an interesting suggestion.

 

[JimFox]

Great job Trent! I have never heard of that type of beetle before.

 

[Trent Watts]

Great job Trent! I have never heard of that type of beetle before.

Thanks Jim.. It was new to me as well.

 

[Michael13]

The third photo is scary! The POV makes me feel like this monster has me cornered!

 

[Joe Colozzo]

great shots, man does it look like a mean one.

 

[Trent Watts]

The third photo is scary! The POV makes me feel like this monster has me cornered!

Thanks Michael.