Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Aphthona lacertosa

Aphthona lacertosa Beetle - Aphthona lacertosa - male Beetle - Aphthona lacertosa - female Beetle - Aphthona lacertosa - female
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 Galerucinae (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea Beetles)
Tribe Alticini (Flea Beetles)
No Taxon (Longitarsus Genus Group)
Genus Aphthona
Species lacertosa (Aphthona lacertosa)
Explanation of Names
Aphthona lacertosa (Rosenhauer 1847)
Size
2.5-3.4 mm(1)
Identification
Shiny, metallic black
Range
native to Europe (mostly in the sw. part)(2), intentionally introduced in NA in the 1990s for weed control purposes
Food
host: Euphorbia cyparissias(2)
Life Cycle
Adults emerge from the soil beginning in May to July, and are present for several weeks to several months. Females lay groups of eggs at, or just below, soil surface, near base of leafy spurge stem. Newly-hatched larvae burrow into the soil and begin feeding on small roots.
Remarks
common in ND(3)
Internet References
images: 1 | 2