I have this ugly little thing eating holes in my potato leaves. I can't
find it in my insect book, but it should be called the melanoma bug. It is
almost circular, 5/16" in diameter, very flat, with an ugly black wart on
its back that looks like the pictures at the dermatologist. The fringe
around the wart is almost transparent, so that it looks like a black wart on
the leaf.

What is it? It must be common enough but as I say, my Peterson's doesn't
seem to mention it.

Sounds like maybe the Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala clavata)
It the 2nd one on the list he
http://www.ladybuglady.com/goldenbeetle.html

"donald girod" wrote in message
...
I have this ugly little thing eating holes in my potato leaves. I can't
find it in my insect book, but it should be called the melanoma bug. It
is
almost circular, 5/16" in diameter, very flat, with an ugly black wart on
its back that looks like the pictures at the dermatologist. The fringe
around the wart is almost transparent, so that it looks like a black wart
on
the leaf.

What is it? It must be common enough but as I say, my Peterson's doesn't
seem to mention it.

Xref: 127.0.0.1 alt.home.lawn.garden:4623

Pretty close. I expect it is some variety of the critter you mention. But
it is definitely nastier-looking. The article says "sweet-potato" leaves,
and that's probably close enough--both are nightshade-related.


"CNB" wrote in message
...
Sounds like maybe the Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala clavata)
It the 2nd one on the list he
http://www.ladybuglady.com/goldenbeetle.html

"donald girod" wrote in message
...
I have this ugly little thing eating holes in my potato leaves. I can't
find it in my insect book, but it should be called the melanoma bug. It
is
almost circular, 5/16" in diameter, very flat, with an ugly black wart
on
its back that looks like the pictures at the dermatologist. The fringe
around the wart is almost transparent, so that it looks like a black
wart
on
the leaf.

What is it? It must be common enough but as I say, my Peterson's
doesn't
seem to mention it.