In the United States, two species are major pests of cucurbits, the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), which is mainly found east of the Mississippi River, and Acalymma trivittatum which is mostly found west of the Mississippi.
tracheiphila is spread between plants by two species of insect vectors, Striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma Vittatum) and spotted cucumber beetles (Diabrotica undecimpunctata).