Species Odontota dorsalis - Locust Leaf Miner

Locust Leaf Miner larvae feed inside the leaves of locust trees. (1)

Nine species comprise this genus (2)

6-6.5mm (1)

Adult has overall orange-colored pronotum and elytra, with a widening black stripe along the elytra. Perhaps a mimic of Lycids, such as Eros humeralis (below right):

Eastern North America (3)

Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae) is an especially favored larval and adult host (4)

Odontota dorsalis lays eggs on leaf undersides in masses of 3-5, and a brown spot appears on the upper leaf surface above the egg mass. The larvae enter the leaf through one hole and together form a single blotch mine. On the other hand the lepidopteran mines on locust leaves have one larva per mine, and their legs are not as well developed as those of Odontota. (From comment here).

Odontota horni, is similar but the pale ground color is strongly reddish and the black sutural area of the elytra is much narrower.

Butte, J. G. 1968c. The revision of the tribe Chalepini of America north of Mexico. III. Genus Odontota Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 22(4): 101-124.

Forest Pests Page has images of adults and larval/pupal stages, as well as plant damage.

Odontota dorsalis - Leaf Beetles of Great Smoky Mountains NP - Edward G. Riley