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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 » Chrysomelini » Chrysomelina » Chrysomela » Subgenus Macrolina (Chrysomela Subgenus Macrolina) » Cottonwood Leaf Beetle (Chrysomela scripta)

Species Chrysomela scripta - Cottonwood Leaf Beetle

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Cottonwood Leaf Beetle - Chrysomela scripta

Cottonwood Leaf Beetles Mating - Chrysomela scripta - male - female

Yellow-Green Beetle - Chrysomela scripta

Cottonwood Leaf Beetle - Chrysomela scripta - 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

Tribe Chrysomelini

Subtribe Chrysomelina

Genus Chrysomela

No Taxon (Subgenus Macrolina)

Species scripta (Cottonwood Leaf Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Author: Fabricius 1801

Explanation of Names

script - Latin for write (1)

Size

6.5-9 mm

Identification

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

Range

AZ-FL-ME-ID / Adj Can / Mex (2)

Season

Mostly April-July (BG Data)

Food

Willows, Poplars, and Cottonwoods (Salicaceae) (3)

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. (4)

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. (5)

See Also

Red-headed Texas Chrysomela (Chrysomela texana) - BugGuide

Print References

Papp, p. 243, fig. 798 (4)

White, p. 296, fig. 129 (5)

Dillon p. 692, (called Lina scripta) plate LXIX #5 (6)

Drees, page 187, figure # 190 (larva) (7)

Arnett, # 183--adult and larvae shown (8)

Arnett, p. 328, fi. 772 (9)

Internet References

Forest Pests of North America

Texas A & M Cooperative Extension

Insects of Cedar Creek

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contributed by Cotinis on 4 June, 2004 - 10:34am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, Ron M.
Last updated 4 November, 2011 - 9:30am

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