This beetle is yellow with black spots on the elytra. Adult beetles are about a quarter of an inch long and vary from a yellowish to reddish color. A black band surrounds the outer margin of the wing covers and the back normally has four black spots. These beetles are moderately elongated and moderately flattened in shape. The head is easily seen from above.
It feeds on members of the bean family and sometimes become very abundant in soybean fields. Adults start feeding soon after the host plants come up where they chew small round holes in the leaves and chew on stems. Its occurrence at the Fontenelle Nature centers is not known.
This beetle overwinters as an adult. The larvae feed on roots and other underground plant parts for about 30 days. It may cause enough damage to girdle and kill young plants.
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