Grapevine Beetle

The grapevine beetle, Pelidnota punctata, also known as Spotted June Beetle or the Spotted Pelidnota, is a member of the subfamily Rutelinae of the Scarab beetle family. Grapevine beetles are common in the north and central United States and Eastern Canada, but do relatively little damage to their host plants. The beetles fly at a fast speed, usually in a curving flight.

The adult beetle is approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) long, but can reach 1.2 inches occasionally, off-yellow or auburn red, with three black spots running down each side. Fine black lines divide the edges of its elytra. At other times, the beetle may have been known as Pelidnota lutea. There are two different variations of pelidnota punctata, the southern variation lacks the darker legs, while the northern variation has darker legs. As Philip Harpootlian points out, the Grapevine Beetle is a variable species—so much so that T.L. Casey named ten species and subspecies in 1915, names that were later merged back into Pelidnota punctata.

Their color, shape, spots, and behavior sometimes lead them to be misidentified as a giant ladybug. While both are beetles, the grapevine beetle is of a distinct family.