I see these on my little patch of cultivated
Passiflora lutea in late spring. Later in the summer I see the little orange larvae. Between the adults and the larvae munching on the leaves, they can really do a number on the plant--but one reason I cultivated this native plant was to observe the relationships with insects, so I can't complain. The bright color and bold pattern is, perhaps,
aposematic--I think Passionflowers contain toxic secondary compounds.More about this beetle on
BugGuide.PCCA20080525-1906A
