A specialist feeder on the foliage of cucurbits (pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber etc), both the adults and the larvae.
Three species of Epilachna, E. sumbana, E. vigintioctopunctata and E. vigintisexpunctata, can be separated only by close examination.
Good images of the tips of the elytra can be used to separate sumbana (apices rounded) from vigintioctopunctata and vigintisexpunctata (apices 'distinctly angled'). The latter two can be separated only on examination of the genitalia.
Epilachna sumbana is listed in the following regions:
Canberra & Southern Tablelands | Albury, Wodonga | South Coast | New South Wales North Coast | Greater Brisbane
Synonyms
Henoepilachna sumbana, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata sumbana, E. cucurbitae