Subfamily Chrysomelinae

Classification · Other Common Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

False potato beetle - Leptinotarsa juncta

colorful leaf beetle - Prasocuris vittata

Colorado Potato Beetle: Larva - Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Labidomera clivicollis (Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle) - Labidomera clivicollis

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

Other Common Names

Broad-bodied Leaf Beetles

Broad-shouldered Leaf Beetles

Numbers

16 genera and 135 spp north of Mex. (1), (2)

Size

3 to 14 mm. long.

Identification

"Convex, round, or oval, often brightly colored. Head partly inserted into prothorax (to the eyes). Eyes slightly emarginate. Antennae moderately long, clavate, insertions separated by width of frons. Pronotum at least slightly convex and nearly as wide basally as elytra; lateral margins defined. Procoxae transversely oval. Third tarsal segment usually entire. Elytra covering pygidium and with wide epipleura." Auburn University

Food

Both adults and larvae feed on foliage and flowers of a variety of plants.

Life Cycle

Larvae feed externally on leaves. Unlike those of some other subfamilies, they are not equipped with fecal coverings. (1)

Print References

(3) (4)

Internet References

Auburn University. Key to the Alabama Tribes of Chrysomelinae

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.	A Review of the North American Chrysomeline Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) By John A. Wilcox

3.	Peterson Field Guides: Beetles By Richard E. White

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

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn
Last updated 15 December, 2011 - 2:07pm

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