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University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
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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 » Chrysomela » Cottonwood Leaf Beetle (Chrysomela scripta)

Species Chrysomela scripta - Cottonwood Leaf Beetle

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Cottonwood Leaf Beetle - Chrysomela scripta

Chrysomela scripta? - Chrysomela scripta

eggs and larvae on willow - Chrysomela scripta

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 Chrysomela

Species scripta (Cottonwood Leaf Beetle)

Size

6.5-9 mm

Identification

Yellowish or reddish with lines and dots. Found on Willow, Poplar, and Cottonwood.

Range

Throughout North America

Season

Summer

Food

Willow, Poplars, and Cottonwoods

Life Cycle

Adults and larvae found on willow--Salix, poplar--Populus sp., and cottonwood--Populus deltoides, etc. Yellow or reddish eggs laid on clusters on underside of leaves. Black larvae skeletonize leaves, while adults attack only midrib and large veins. There are up to five broods per year. (1)

Remarks

Most common and widespread member of this genus. When willows were grown commercially for baskets, these beetles were considered a pest, but now they are of little economic consequence. (2)

Print References

Papp, p. 243, fig. 798 (1)

White, p. 296, fig. 129 (2)

Dillon p. 692, (called Lina scripta) plate LXIX #5 (3)

Drees, page 187, figure # 190 (larva) (4)

Arnett, # 183--adult and larvae shown (5)

Arnett, p. 328, fi. 772 (6)

Internet References

Forest Pests of North America

Texas A & M Cooperative Extension

Insects of Cedar Creek

Works Cited

1.	Introduction to North American Beetles By Charles S. Papp

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

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

4.	A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects By Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman

5.	Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques

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

Contributed by Cotinis on 4 June, 2004 - 10:34am
Last updated 1 January, 2006 - 8:45pm

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