Kuya beetle

On a carpet of green leaves still holding morning dew, a tiny insect stood gracefully and quietly. Its body was so tiny, it was almost invisible. Small yet incredibly alluring. Its body shimmered like a living jewel specially designed by the universe. Bright orange blended beautifully with glossy black. The color combination was stunning, contrasting beautifully with its surroundings, especially the fresh green leaves it was perched on.

The tiny insect was called the kuya beetle, or in Latin, Aulacophora lewisii. It is a beetle from the Chrysomelidae family. The beetle I encountered is a major pest of pumpkin and melon crops. However, I found it not on those crops, but on wild plants growing in small bushes not far from residential areas.

This beetle's active period is similar to other insects in general. They are active during cooler temperatures, when the sun is shining and at sunset. Their habitat, like other insects in general, is also a favorite of green environments, especially pumpkin and melon fields.