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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) » Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines (Cassidinae) » Chalepini » Microrhopala » Goldenrod Leaf Miner (Microrhopala vittata)
Photo#188653
Chrysomelid leaf miner on western sunflower - Microrhopala vittata
Copyright © 2008 Terry Harrison

Chrysomelid leaf miner on western sunflower - Microrhopala vittata
near Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, USA
June 6, 2008
Size: Length of larva, 7.5mm
This image shows a chrysomelid larva and (at much lower magnification) the full-depth blotch leaf mine in which it lives and feeds on western sunflower, Helianthus occidentalis, in early June, east-central Illinois, USA. Thanks for any help identifying the insect.
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Contributed by Terry Harrison on 7 June, 2008 - 2:52pm
Last updated 24 February, 2013 - 5:31pm

Moved
Moved from Microrhopala.
… Charley Eiseman, 31 October, 2009 - 11:16am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Leaf Beetles.
… Charley Eiseman, 6 May, 2009 - 9:29am login or register to post comments

Microrhopala sp.?
Hi Terry,

I came across this image while searching for information on the pyraloid blotch miner of sunflower. As Needham et al. (Leaf-Mining Insects, 1928) state that Microrhopala species feed on asters and goldenrods, that genus seems like a good bet to me. The other chrysomelids making blotch mines all seem to be in woody species, although there are some making linear mines in Plantago, Rumex, and Brassicaceae.
… Charley Eiseman, 11 March, 2009 - 12:14am login or register to post comments

 
Another lead
This website lists "larvae of Microrhapala cyanea (Leaf Miner Beetle)" as feeding on Helianthus. (Figured out that the pyraloid in question is Frechinia helianthiales, incidentally.)
… Charley Eiseman, 11 March, 2009 - 12:20am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Charley
You're right in suggesting that the beetle larva in my photo represents a species of Microrhopala. From the same rearing lot that produced this larva, I reared an adult of the same species, and I posted an image of it here, where it was identified as Microrhopala sp. As to finding out exactly which species it is, however, I have had no luck in tracking down the person who is supposed to be the expert on the group.
… Terry Harrison, 6 May, 2009 - 9:08am login or register to post comments

 
That's a shame
(glad to see confirmation of my generic ID, though). I don't suppose you still have the specimen?
… Charley Eiseman, 6 May, 2009 - 9:32am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Beetles.
… john and jane balaban, 10 July, 2008 - 4:19pm login or register to post comments

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