Diet

• Adults: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, stems and occasionally flowers. Many species are associated with plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), including potato, tomato, eggplant and wild Solanum species.

• Larvae: Feed mainly on roots and underground plant tissues. In some species, larvae also feed on developing tubers, producing small lesions or pits.

• Adults create characteristic small, round "shot holes" in leaves.

Range

• Epitrix is primarily a New World genus, occurring from Canada and the United States through Mexico, Central America and South America.

• Mexico supports numerous Epitrix species, particularly in temperate, subtropical and tropical highland regions.

• Species may occur in the broader Guerrero region, although individual species have highly variable distributions.

Habitat

• Found in forests, woodland edges, grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens, roadsides and disturbed vegetation.

• Particularly associated with areas containing Solanaceae, including wild nightshades and cultivated crops.

• Adults occur on foliage, while larvae develop in soil around plant roots and underground plant structures.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.12 in).

• Very small, oval flea beetles with enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping.

• Colour is generally black, brown or dark metallic, although appearance varies among species.