Adult potato beetles are oval and about 10 mm long. They have a yellow-orange prothorax [the area behind the head] and yellowish white wing covers [elytra] with 10 narrow black stripes.
Females lay clusters of bright yellowish orange oval eggs on the underside of leaves. When young larvae first hatch, they are brick red with black heads. Older larvae are pink to salmon colored with black heads. All larvae have two rows of dark spots on each side of their bodies.
The potato beetle multiplies extremely fast; each female will lay about 500 eggs! Eggs begin to hatch within 2 weeks and larvae may complete development in as little as 10 additional days. The fourth instar larvae drop from the plant, burrow into the soil and pupate. By midsummer, all stages of potato beetles, eggs, larvae, and adults can be present in a potato field.
Adult potato beetles and larvae are usually imported with agricultural produce. Adults may also be spread long distances by wind. They may also be carried long distances in sea water.