Subfamily Cryptocephalinae - Case-bearing Leaf Beetles

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited

Griburius scutellaris (Fabricius) - Griburius scutellaris

Cryptocephalus brunneovittatus Schaeffer - Cryptocephalus brunneovittatus

Neochlamisus velutinus Karren - Neochlamisus velutinus

Cryptocephalus sanguinicollis sanguinicollis Suffrian - Cryptocephalus sanguinicollis

Case-bearing Leaf Beetle - Pachybrachis subfasciatus

Cryptocephalinae - Case-bearing Leaf Beetles? - Griburius scutellaris

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Long-horned and Leaf Beetles)

Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Subfamily Cryptocephalinae (Case-bearing Leaf Beetles)

Other Common Names

Cylindrical leaf beetles

Explanation of Names

Greek crypto 'hidden' + kephalon 'head' (most have heads deeply inserted into prothorax)

Numbers

~350 spp. in 22 genera in our area(1)

Identification

Compact, subcylindrical to subglobose; head inserted into the prothorax

Habitat

Larvae live in litter on the soil surface. (1) Or on the leaves they feed on and drop to the ground when threatened (2).

Food

Larvae are mostly detritivorous; a small number consume green leaves(1)

Life Cycle

Larvae are casebearers, living in and protected by a case constructed of their fecal matter and sometimes plant debris. The case is shorter than the larva that remains folded inside it.(1)

Eggs are laid in carefully sculpted packets formed from feces and abdominal secretions (S.M. Clark's comment):

Remarks

Chrysomelids with long, slender antennae belong to Cryptocephalinae, however, not all Cryptocephalinae have such antennae(3)

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

2.	Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects By Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn

3.	Coleoptera or Beetles east of the Great Plains By Edwards, J. Gordon. 1949.

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 27 March, 2005 - 6:22pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, ceiseman, v belov
Last updated 3 May, 2012 - 2:22pm

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