Lema diversipes is an orange-brown leaf beetle from East Asia that feeds on kudzu. It is not found in the United States; it lives in China and Taiwan, and has also turned up in Korea and Japan. Because its larvae feed in groups on kudzu leaves, researchers in Korea have studied it as a possible way to control kudzu.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 5/16 in (8 mm) long. The head, the narrow-waisted thorax, and the wing covers are orange-brown. The front legs are orange, but the middle and hind legs and most of the underside are black.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Kudzu patches
- Range
- Native to China (first described from Yunnan) and Taiwan. Also recorded in Korea, and in Japan since 2016. Not known from the United States.
Behavior
- Diet
- Adults and larvae eat kudzu leaves. Feeding on plants in the pea family is unusual for this group of beetles.
Life cycle
- Larva
- Larvae feed together in groups on kudzu leaves.
Name and classification
- About the name
- For years it was lumped with Lema lacertosa, a related beetle that feeds on Asiatic dayflower. A 2013 study separated the two again: this species is bigger and stouter, with an almost entirely black underside.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.