Not sure about this.
Opened up hollow stem of alligatorweed which had top wilting. This may be the very young of the beetle.
In hollow stem of alligatorweed with top wilting.
In hollow stem of alligatorweed with top wilting.
Note in frame 5 that the stem of this alligatorweed although growing in water is not hollow. Two larvae were in this leaf cluster.
The beetles in this area seem to have their larvae enclosed in a case made of the top leaves of the plant, held together with silk.
These plants have larvae in these cases and in the hollow stems of the alligatorweed (with a hole in that section of the stem).
Top leaves of alligatorweed plant held together with silk with larva in it. Larva of alligatorweed beetle in this same area were also found in hollow stem sections of alligatorweed with a bored hole.
I'm not sure that this is the larvae of the alligator weed flea beetle. I have seen these beetle larvae furled in alligator weed leaves. I have not been able to determine what happens after the eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves.
Not sure if this is the early stages of the arcola malloi larvae which I found in a stem with a hole on alligator weed.
When I saw limp leaves at the top instead of defoliated plants, and I found a hole in the nearest hollow stem, I opened them up to see what was in them. I have been looking for indications of the thrip, another bio-control agent against alligator weeds introduced at the same time as the flea beetles.
Not sure, but this was in the hollow stem of alligator weed with beetle nearby and with hole in the stem. I've taken photos of eggs, larvae, adults (is there a pupa stage for this beetle? -- if so what may be a pupa), but don't know how the beetle transitions from one stage to another. I've been checking hollow stems of alligator weeds with withered tops and which have holes in the stem. This had a withered top and a hole.
Top of alligator weed leaf plant was wilted. Checked for hole in hollow stem. Opened up stem.
In leaf case of alligatorweed.
Larvae in alligatorweed leaf case
This plant had a leaf cluster with a larva at the top of the plant, and another single leaf folded over with a larva.
Top leaves of plant were held together with silk and the larva was inside.