Stenispa collaris
Baly, 1858
Bicolored Smooth Hispine
Stenispa collaris is a small hispine in the leaf beetle Chrysomelidae. are narrowly elongate and cylindrical with a distinctive color pattern: shining black body, bright red , and cupreo-aeneous (coppery-bronze) . The occurs across the central and eastern United States, from New York to Texas. Despite being a member of the hispine group—many of which are specialized leaf miners—no plant has been documented for this species.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Stenispa collaris: /ˈstɛn.ɪs.pə kəˈlɑːrɪs/
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Identification
The combination of bright red pronotum against black and metallic coppery-bronze is distinctive. The narrowly elongate, cylindrical body separates it from broader leaf beetles. Among hispines, the specific color pattern of red with dark body and metallic elytra is characteristic. No similar with this exact color combination occur in its North American range.
Habitat
have been collected under dry leaves beneath willow (Salix) . Specific microhabitat requirements beyond ground-level leaf litter in association with woody vegetation remain poorly documented.
Distribution
United States: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas. Range spans the Midwest, Great Plains, and parts of the Northeast and Southeast.