Genus Chaetocnema

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References

Bermuda grass flea beetle? - Chaetocnema

Chaetocnema pulicaria F. E. Melsheimer - Chaetocnema pulicaria

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 Galerucinae (Skeletonizing leaf beetles)

Tribe Alticini (Flea Beetles)

Genus Chaetocnema

Numbers

59 species recognized in N-America (White, 1993)

Size

1.1 - 3.25 mm

Identification

Pronotum with no special features, elytra with aligned, or (more rarely) confused punctures.

Middle and hind tibiae with a blunt projection ot tooth in the apical half, followed by an emargination. Among N-American flea beetles, only Blepharida has similar tibiae, well different otherwise, compare:

Species ID is virtually impossible by photographs, and may require study of male genitalia.

Range

cosmopolitan

Habitat

open habitats

Food

Species of the genus may feed on a broad variety of plant families; N-Am. representatives are reported from Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Combretaceae, Polygonaceae and Malvaceae.

Remarks

The genus contains some pest species:

C.confinis (Sweetpotato Flea Beetle)

C.denticulata (Toothed Flea Beetle)

C.ectypa (Desert Corn Flea Beetle)

C.pulicaria (Corn Flea Beetle)

Print References

White, R.E. (1996): A revision of the genus Chaetocnema of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Contr.Am.Entom.Inst. 29(1): 1-158

(contains key to species)

Contributed by tom murray on 21 November, 2006 - 8:59pm
Additional contributions by Boris Bueche
Last updated 27 April, 2007 - 7:08am

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