Spotted Cucumber Beetle

As some of you would say, another creepy bug!  This particular creepy bug is an agricultural pest. Cucumber beetles feed on cucurbits, which include cucumber, zucchini, squash, gourds, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and watermelon. The beetles damage the plant and fruit, and can transmit disease such as bacterial wilt and squash mosaic virus.

There are six types of cucumber beetles in the U.S., and this one is the spotted cucumber beetle.  I found only one of these beetles among the prairie plants this morning, and it appeared to be feeding on sunflower petals and pollen.

Took this photo between 8 and 9 am when there was a break in the rain. Partial sun was coming through the clouds, and light was added via a bracket-mounted flash to the side.  Picked this photo because the insect's top, sides, and face are all visible. The beetle did not like me there, and kept crawling to the other side of the flower petal.  At least it did not fly away.