Cereal Leaf Beetle
- Pronunciation
- /SEE-ree-al LEAF BEE-tuhl/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Cereal Leaf Beetle
- Plural
- Cereal Leaf Beetles
Definition
A pest of cereal crops, particularly barley and oats, characterized by its metallic blue head and wing covers, red pronotum, and orange-yellow legs. They feed on the leaves of their host plants, causing distinctive linear 'windowpane' damage.
Etymology
From the Latin word 'cerealis', meaning 'of wheat', and 'leaf beetle'.
Example
The cereal leaf beetle is a major pest of barley and oats in North America.
Related Terms
- Oulema melanopus
- Small grains
- Leaf feeding
- Crop damage
Usage Notes
Cereal leaf beetles are known for their distinctive 'windowpane' damage on leaves.