Knowledgebase
What is eating my tomatillo? #835671
Asked June 14, 2023, 5:15 PM EDT
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Finally got a picture of the bug!
Thanks for the pictures.
As far as I can determine these are larvae of the Three-Lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila). Reflective of where you are finding them they are also called tomatillo leaf beetles. See the following for images of the adult and of the larvae:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/2052825/bgimage
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/three-lined-potato-beetle-fact-sheet-0
Take a very close look at IMG 4193. You may want to try and magnify it as well. These larvae have the delightful habit of covering themselves with their own fecal material. It is thought that this may be a protective device to make themselves less appealing to predators. The following will provide you with further information about this pest together with remedial procedures:
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=53615&sharing=yes
https://www.thedailygarden.us/garden-word-of-the-day/three-lined-potato-beetles
https://www.bountifulgardener.com/common-tomatillo-plant-problems-and-solutions/
Good Luck and thanks for using our forum.
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