Other Common Names
Coreopsis Leaf Beetle, Bronze-fronted Leaf Beetle, Desoto Leaf Beetle
Explanation of Names
Phaedon desotonis Balsbaugh 1983
Described from a single spmn coll'ed in in 1963 in
DeSoto State Park, DeKalb Co., AL
(1)(2)(Wheeler and Hoebeke, 2001)
Identification
Similar to
P. virdis; see
habitus photos of both and diagnostic features
(3)Range
se US (SC‒FL to OK‒TX) -
Map (3)(4), most records from s. Great Plains
possibly adventive to NA (S.M. Clark, pers.comm. to =v=, 29.v.2014)
Food
Hosts: Asteraceae:
Coreopsis spp. and
Bidens aristosa(3); common on Greenthread (
Thelesperma filifolium, Asteraceae) in TX & AR (Smith-Rodgers 2012)
(5)Life Cycle
Adults overwinter (Wheeler & Hoebeke 2001)
Remarks
a case where an uncommon insect herbivore has 'jumped' from its rare native host to related common hosts and is spreading (Smith-Rodgers 2012)
Print References
Balsbaugh, E.U., Jr. (1983) A taxonomic revision of the genus Phaedon north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). North Dakota Insects Schaefer-Post Series 15, 73 pp.
Balsbaugh, E.U., Jr., and K.L. Hayes. (1972) The leaf beetles of Alabama (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 441, 223 p.
(1)
Braman S.K., Pendley A., Corley W. (2002) Plant susceptibility to and seasonal occurrence of Phaedon desotonis Balsbaugh, a leaf beetle attacking Coreopsis. J. Env. Hortic. 20: 220‒223.
Thomas, M.C. (2004)
Phaedon desotonis Balsbaugh (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Coreopsis (Asteaceae) pest new to Florida. Florida Division of Plant Industry, DACs-P-01670. 2 pp. (
Full PDF)
(3)
Wheeler A.G., Jr., Hoebeke E.R. (2001)
Phaedon desotonis Balsbaugh (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): New distribution records, first host-plant associations, and seasonality of a seldom-collected beetle of rock-outcrop communities. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 103: 826‒831. (
Full text)
Internet References
Photos of central Texas outbreak - S. Smith-Rodgers, 2012 (with comments by E.G. Riley)
Contributed by
Tim Moyer on 14 April, 2008 - 11:47am
Additional contributions by
Mike Quinn,
v belovLast updated 16 February, 2025 - 9:32am