Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Long-horned and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) » Chrysomelinae » Gastrophysa » Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa cyanea)

Species Gastrophysa cyanea - Green Dock Beetle

Beetle ID Request [2008] - Gastrophysa cyanea

Green Dock Beetle - Gastrophysa cyanea - male - female

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 Chrysomelinae

Genus Gastrophysa

Species cyanea (Green Dock Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Gastroidea

Numbers

There are four members of this gemus in North America, three of which are native (1)

Size

4-6 mm

Identification

Oblong-oval, metallic green or blue, shining. Antennae, legs, and undersurface black. Elytra densely and roughly punctate. (2)

Range

Much of North America (1)

Habitat

Open areas, agricultural land with host plants.

Season

Spring-early summer. April-June (Alabama). April-July (North Carolina--print references and guide photos).

Food

Normal hosts are species of Dock, Rumex, family Polygonaceae. This beetle seoceis has also been reported in association with Rhubarb, Polygonum, [Rheum]. Other suggested hosts beyond Polygonaceae are likely in error. (3)

See Also

This beetle in size, shape, and color somewhat resembles the less punctate Chrysochus.

Print References

Dillon, p. 691, plate LXVIII (2)

Balsbaugh, p. 100 (4)

Arnett et al., p. 328, gives range. (5)

Brimley, p. 226, Gastroidea cyanea (6)

Internet References

Torrey Pines Reserve--California (photo)

Works Cited

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

2.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

3.	Host Plants of Leaf Beetle Species Occuring in the United States and Canada By Shawn M. Clark, Douglas G. LeDoux, Terry N. Seeno, Edward G. Riley, Arthur L. Gilbert, and James M. Sullivan. 2004.

4.	The leaf beetles of Alabama By Edward Balsbaugh and Kirby Hays

5.	How to Know the Beetles By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques

6.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

Contributed by Cotinis on 20 July, 2005 - 5:39am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 12 August, 2006 - 9:14am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.