Passiflora Leaf Beetle...how do I get rid of them?!

Found gobs...gobs...oh heck, hundreds of these beetle eating my passiflora vine...well so far they have only hit the p. incarnata (I think that's what it's called) and the p. foetida.

Deb led me to the correct genus and I did a search to compare photos and found this one...which I believe is the exact bug...UGH!!!

Disonycha stenosticha Schaeffer

http://www.texasento.net/glabrata.htm

Has anyone else had them...and how do I get rid of them without harming the passifloras and any Gulf Fritillary eggs or cats that may be on them. So far I have not seen any fritillary activity but don't want to kill off any eggs a butterfly may come to lay.

~ Cat

Cool Cat!
I was hoping I might hit on something... From what I've read, the way to control these is at the larval stage. Like many other beetles, we might not even know we have them until we see the adults. Same with the Tree (Cottonwood) Borers. From what I've read, Disonycha can carry a disease and give it to the plant. The best thing to do to save the plant might be to qurantine it. Treat it very aggresivly and cover it really well.. Other than that it might have to be cut down to save it.
I hope Mike has some better way.. Its a really rough time of year to lose so much Passionvine, but remember how busy the fall gets down there too. At least you should be ready to welcome Gulf Frits back by then.
I had to quarantine my passionvines last year bc frits devoured them.. I cut the vines back to about 2' each and isolated it until enugh foliage came back to offer. I saved 3 out of 4 plants this way. They came back like gangbusters, just in time for the fall rush. The pv grows faster than any plant I've ever had.. so there's the upside.

:-Deb

Yes,

Haven't been able to log onto aol from work...grrrrr...so have no idea if Mike has replied.

This might be a blessing in disguise...I needed to cut back the passion vine to make the arched trellis taller...but just hated to cut into my precious vine!

It's only six feet tall but the hanging tendrils really does hinder people from walking to my front door (good for bible thumpers and sale people but bad for the mailman and ups guy)

A friend came by this morning and he'll help me put up a taller trellis for the walkway this weekend....really need to do it soon as I want the plant to be in shape for the fall season...our best butterfly time :o)

~ Cat