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Species Chrysochus auratus - Dogbane Beetle

Iridescent beetle - Bay City, Michigan - Chrysochus auratus Green beetle - Chrysochus auratus Unknown Beetle - Chrysochus auratus Chrysomelidae: Chrysochus auratus - Chrysochus auratus Dogbane Beetle - Chrysochus auratus Chrysochus auratus Dogbane Leaf Beetle - Chrysochus auratus Beetle - Chrysochus auratus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Subfamily Eumolpinae
Tribe Eumolpini
Genus Chrysochus
Species auratus (Dogbane Beetle)
Explanation of Names
Chrysochus auratus (Fabricius 1775)
auratus = 'golden'
Numbers
8-11 mm
Identification
Oblong shape. Shiny, iridescent.
Range
transcontinental (ME-WA to GA-AZ)(1)
Food
hosts: Apocynaceae, incl. Apocynum cannabinum and Apocynum androsaemifolium; also reported in asso. w/ common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca, Asclepiadaceae) (2)
Life Cycle
They mate and lay eggs through the summer. They lay eggs on leaves and stems of host plants and nearby vegetation in masses of egg capsules
larvae are obligate root feeders; adults eat leaves of larval host
Eggs covered in frass
See Also

Gastrophysa cyanea
Print References
Peterson M.A., Dobler S., Holland J., Tantalo L., Locke S. (2001) Behavioral, molecular, and morphological evidence for a hybrid zone between Chrysochus auratus and C. cobaltinus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 94(1): 1-9.
Williams C.E. (1991) Host plant latex and the feeding behavior of Chrysochus auratus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Col. Bull. 45: 195–196.
Williams C.E. (1992) Movement of the dogbane beetle, Chrysochus auratus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in a patchy environment. Banisteria 1: 8–10.
Internet References
Species profiles: Quinn (2007) | Tolchin (2013)(3)
Works Cited
1.Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico
Ed Riley, Shawn Clark, and Terry Seeno. 2003. Coleopterists Society.
2.Host plants of leaf beetle species occurring in the United States and Canada
Clark et al. 2004. Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 2, 476 pp.
3.Animal Diversity Web: Phylum Arthropoda