Species Lilioceris lilii - Lily Leaf Beetle

Classification · Explanation of Names · Range · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Scarlet Lily Beetle larva - Lilioceris lilii

filth covered orange insect - Lilioceris lilii

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 Criocerinae

Tribe Criocerini

Genus Lilioceris

Species lilii (Lily Leaf Beetle)

Explanation of Names

Latin, 'of lilium' (Lilium is the botanical name for the host plant, lilies)

Range

Native to the entire Palaearctic Region(1); in NA, established in se. Canada (NS to ON) and the US (New England)(2)

Remarks

This is one of many leaf beetles that make a very audible high-pitched squeaking stridulation when grabbed, the presumed purpose being to startle the predator (or collector) into dropping them.

The larvae are found beneath mounds of dark brown "crud" along the edges of leaves they are eating, literally a protective barrier of their own feces.

Internet References

Royal Horticultural Society Lily Beetle Survey

Hill Gardens of Maine

Works Cited

1.	Chrysomelidae: The Leaf Beetles of Europe and the Mediterranean Subregion (Checklist and Iconography), by Lech Borowiec

2.	Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico By Ed Riley, Shawn Clark, and Terry Seeno

Contributed by tom murray on 13 June, 2005 - 9:15pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, McClarinJ, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 9 March, 2011 - 9:40am

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