Q:How can I recognize Gratiana boliviana?

A: The beetle goes through four stages: Adults, are about ¼” long and nearly as wide, and are a deep green color; pupae are flattened and immobile; larvae are spiny and are pale green, and eggs are brown and enclosed in a membraneous envelope. Please refer to this link http://pesticide.ifas.ufl.edu to find more pictures about the different stages of the beetle.

The adult and larvae usually feed on upper side TSA leaves while pupae and eggs can be found in the underside of leaves. The life cycle of the beetle starts when a female lays an egg which takes 5-6 days to develop. Larvae complete development in 16-18 days, and the pupal stage lasts 6-7 days. Therefore, from egg to adult the beetle takes about 29-31 to complete development at 77oF.  Like all insects, development occurs faster when it’s warm, and slower when it’s cool.