Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
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) » Skeletonizing leaf beetles (Galerucinae) » Flea Beetles (Alticini) » Asphaera » Shining Flea Beetle (Asphaera lustrans)
Photo#4024
Orange & black beetle - Asphaera lustrans
Copyright © 2004 Hannah Nendick-Mason

Orange & black beetle - Asphaera lustrans
Gainesville, Florida, USA
June 1, 2004
I also saw this in flight and everything but the elytra appeared to be orange. Less than half an inch long.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason on 2 June, 2004 - 2:04pm
Last updated 1 August, 2006 - 1:25pm

Seen one!
I've seen one of these. I knew it was some sort of flea beetle but I didn't know what kind thank you .
… Brittanie Christina McCormack, 20 August, 2006 - 5:37pm login or register to post comments

Shining Flea Beetle
I call this the Shining Flea Beetle

Etymology: lustr (L). Shining, pure, washed

See above link for distribution maps and other info.

MQ, Austin

Texas Beetle Info
TexasEnto.net/beetles.htm
… Mike Quinn, 31 December, 2005 - 5:31pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Mike!
When I was working at UF we sometimes called this the Gator beetle - for the orange and blue-black colors approximating those of our team. I doubt that name stands much chance of universal acceptance, though!
I will add your link to the guide page.
Do I understand correctly that this beetle is native to all the states you list in its range and only considered exotic in FL?
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 1 January, 2006 - 7:28am login or register to post comments

flea beetle
This is a Chrysomelidae leaf beetle of some sort. Judging by the "knees" on its hind legs it is one of the many, many species of flea beetles. Knowing what it was feeding on is half the battle in identifying any kind of leaf beetle.
… Eric R. Eaton, 11 June, 2004 - 2:52pm login or register to post comments

 
Positive ID made
by the folks at University of Florida. This is Asphaera lustrans, an exotic beetle that has been reported in Texas and Florida since around 1999. Found feeding on Scutellaria (skullcap) more recently, but this was on Salvia and I'm not sure if it was eating or not.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 12 September, 2004 - 11:09am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

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.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact