Microrhopala excavata
(Olivier, 1808)
Species Guides
1Microrhopala excavata is a small leaf beetle in the Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae (formerly Hispinae). measure 4–5.6 mm (males) and 4.6–6.6 mm (females). The exhibits metallic coloration, with adults appearing black, metallic green, blue, or purple. It is broadly distributed across North America, with two recognized showing partially overlapping ranges. The species has been recorded feeding on several Asteraceae plants.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Microrhopala excavata: /ˌmaɪ.kroʊˈroʊ.pə.lə ˌɛks.kəˈveɪ.tə/
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Identification
are small (4–6.6 mm) with black, metallic green, blue, or purple coloration. The belongs to the Microrhopala, which can be distinguished from related hispine genera by their eight-segmented and smooth (not serrate or toothed) elytral margins. Within the genus, M. excavata may be separated from such as M. vittata by coloration and distribution; M. vittata shows dull reddish elytral stripes and has different associations. The two of M. excavata—M. e. excavata and M. e. cyanea—have partially distributions, with the nominate form ranging from Minnesota and Nova Scotia south to Texas and Florida, and the cyanea subspecies from Alberta and Manitoba south to Arizona, Texas, and Missouri.
Images
Distribution
Widely distributed across North America. Recorded from Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Recorded from the United States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Diet
have been recorded feeding on Doellingeria umbellata, Solidago (including Solidago drummondii), Helianthus annuus, and Heterotheca villosa. Larval feeding habits are not explicitly documented in available sources, though related Microrhopala species are known to be leaf miners.
Similar Taxa
- Microrhopala vittataSimilar member with dull reddish elytral stripes versus metallic coloration; specialized on Solidago and Euthamia graminifolia; eight-segmented and smooth elytral margins shared