Latin Name:  Entomoscelis americana Brown, 1942
                        (R. Bercha, det.)

Length:  7 mm

Range: Throughout Alberta

Habitat:  Various

Time of year seen:  Summer and Fall (Additional Sightings)

Diet: Turnip, radish, rapeseed, mustard and canola

Other: The Red Turnip Beetle is a native to North American and occurs throughout Alberta. Both the adult beetles and the larvae eat plants in the cabbage family.  The Adult beetles are distinctively colored: bright red with a triangular black mark on the pronotum and three black stripes on the elytra. The Red Turnip Beetles lifecycle begins when it over winters as an egg in the ground.  In late April to early May the larvae emerge and begin to feed.  By late May the larvae reach maturity and pupate, with the Adults emerging in early June.  The adult beetles feed for 2-3 weeks, before burrowing back into the ground for a one month rest period.  They re-emerge in July and August and disperse in search of a mates.  There is only one generation per year. (www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/turnipbeetle.htm)