The Cottonwood Leaf Beetle is a medium-sized leaf beetle with cream-white elytra boldly scrawled with irregular black markings, resembling written script. Aggregations of larvae and adults can completely defoliate young cottonwood and willow trees in spring and summer. When disturbed, larvae exude defensive glandular secretions containing salicylaldehyde derived from their host plants.
Best time to see a Cottonwood Leaf Beetle
The best time to see a Cottonwood Leaf Beetle is April–June, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,271 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Cottonwood Leaf Beetle? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Cottonwood Leaf Beetle sightings near you
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