Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Alticinae now a tribe (Alticini) of Galerucinae
Bruchidae now a subfamily of Chrysomelidae
Chlamisinae now a tribe (Fulcidacini) of Cryptocephalinae
Clytrinae now a tribe (Clytini) of Cryptocephalinae
Hispinae now part of the Cassidinae
Explanation of Names
Chrysomelidae Latreille 1802
Numbers
With ~35,000 described spp. in >2100 genera and up to 60,000 estimated spp. worldwide and ca. 1900 valid species and subspecies in ~220 genera in our area, this is one of the five largest beetle families and second largest (after Curculiondiae) among phytophagous beetle families
(1)(2); 10 out of 12 subfamilies are represented in NA
(3)
Overview of our faunaTaxa not yet in the guide are marked (*); taxonomy adapted from(2)
FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE
Identification
helpful online keys good for most of the southeast provided in
(4)(5)(6)Range
throughout the world except the antarctic and most of the high arctic
(1)Habitat
Chrysomelids are phytophagous and are among the most diverse and conspicuous insect families on plants. The adults feed on living plant material, usually consuming leaves or sometimes various flower parts including pollen. Many chrysomelid larvae feed on leaves, but a great number are subterranean, attacking roots and underground stems.
(1)Season
Most NA species are probably univoltine
(1)Food
Most are fairly specific in host preferences, being either monophagous or more commonly oligophagous
(1)(7)Life Cycle
most Nearctic spp. overwinter as adults; larvae have a wide variety of life histories
(1)Remarks
A fair number of leaf beetles are of economic importance; some are used to control invasive weeds
(1)
