The Chrysomelidae – Leaf Beetles
The Chrysomelidae – Leaf Beetles are a family of beetles with about 37,000 species.
Leaf beetles are distinguished by their variety of colors and shapes, as well as by their size, which can vary significantly from one species to another. Many leaf beetles are relatively small, but some species can reach larger sizes.
These insects are often associated with plants, as many species of leaf beetles feed on leaves, stems, and flowers of various plants. Some can cause damage to agricultural crops and ornamental plants, while others play important ecological roles as pollinators or in regulating plant populations.
Leaf beetles have a variety of lifestyles and feeding habits. Some are strict herbivores, feeding exclusively on specific plants, while others have a more generalist diet. Some are known for their ability to secrete toxic chemicals or emit a foul odor to defend themselves against predators.
Characteristics
- herbivorous, phytophagous
- feeds exclusively on plants of the same genus
- sedentary lifestyle
Genus Chrysolina
Chrysolina fastuosa – Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle
| Order | Coleoptera |
|---|---|
| Family | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus | Chrysolina |
| Species | Fastuosa |
| Common name | Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle |
| Identifier | Scopoli |
| Year identified | 1763 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| IUCN category (2001-2003) | Not classified |
| Habitat | |
| Diet | Plants from the Lamiaceae family |
| Color | golden sheen |
| Antennae | |
| Pronotum | |
| Elytra | longitudinal green or violet-blue band |
| Legs | |
| Range | Europe |
| Min size | 5 |
| Max size | 7 |
| Period start | January |
| Period end | December |
Chrysolina americana – Rosemary Leaf Beetle
| Order | Coleoptera |
|---|---|
| Family | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus | Chrysolina |
| Species | Americana |
| Common name | Rosemary Leaf Beetle |
| Identifier | Linnaeus |
| Year identified | 1758 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| IUCN category (2001-2003) | Not classified |
| Habitat | |
| Diet | Plants from the Lamiaceae family |
| Color | green-violet |
| Antennae | |
| Pronotum | |
| Elytra | longitudinal metallic green and violet bands in four double stripes |
| Legs | |
| Range | Europe |
| Min size | 5 |
| Max size | 8 |
| Period start | |
| Period end |
Chrysolina coerulans – Bluish Leaf Beetle
| Order | Coleoptera |
|---|---|
| Family | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus | Chrysolina |
| Species | Coerulans |
| Common name | Bluish Leaf Beetle |
| Identifier | Scriba |
| Year identified | 1791 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| IUCN category (2001-2003) | Not classified |
| Habitat | Humid environments |
| Diet | Polyphagous |
| Color | bluish or blackish with metallic sheen |
| Antennae | |
| Pronotum | |
| Elytra | |
| Legs | |
| Range | Europe |
| Min size | 6 |
| Max size | 9 |
| Period start | |
| Period end |
Genus Cryptocephalus
Cryptocephalus sericeus complex
| Order | Coleoptera |
|---|---|
| Family | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus | Cryptocephalus |
| Species | Sericeus |
| Common name | Silky Cryptocephalus |
| Identifier | Linnaeus |
| Year identified | 1758 |
| Protected | Not protected |
| IUCN category (2001-2003) | Not classified |
| Habitat | |
| Diet | |
| Color | |
| Antennae | |
| Pronotum | |
| Elytra | |
| Legs | |
| Range | Europe, Asia |
| Min size | |
| Max size | |
| Period start | April |
| Period end | July |
Genus Oreina
Genus Oreina – unidentified
References:
Wikipedia – Chrysomelidae