Adults are yellow to black, about 1/5 inch long, with three black stripes down their back.
The insect is a known carrier of mosaic and bacterial wilt. Adults feed on leaves, stems, and fruit. Larvae bore into roots below soil line.
Beetles emerge from hibernation about the time melons come up and begin flying when temperatures reach 60 degrees F. Eggs are laid about the base of plants, and larvae feed from 2 to 6 weeks on roots and stems below ground. Pupal stage-found in the ground-lasts about a week. Probably two generations occur.
