Chrysomela

Linnaeus, 1758

leaf beetles

Species Guides

14

Chrysomela is a of leaf beetles in the Chrysomelidae, containing approximately 40 distributed across most continents except Australia. The genus is notable for its chemical defense mechanisms, with larvae producing volatile compounds derived from plant chemistry. Several species are economically significant, including the cottonwood leaf beetle (C. scripta) in North America. Research on Chrysomela species has contributed to understanding plant-herbivore interactions, local , and chemical .

Chrysomela by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jade Fortnash. Used under a CC0 license.Chrysomela falsa by (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Muir. Used under a CC-BY license.Chrysomela falsa by (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Muir. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysomela: //ˌkrɪsoʊˈmiːlə//

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Distribution

Found on all continents except Australia. Contains 7 in eastern and northern Europe, at least 17 species in North America, and additional species across Asia and other regions.

Host Associations

  • Betulaceae - herbivory plant for C. interrupta and C. lapponica
  • Salicaceae - herbivory plant for C. lapponica and C. aeneicollis; includes willows and poplars

Behavior

Larvae release volatile defensive compounds through esterification of isobutyric acid and 2-methylbutyric acid with alcohols taken up from plants. associated with Salicaceae show chemical plasticity in defensive secretions depending on food plant phenolglucoside content.

Human Relevance

The cottonwood leaf beetle (Chrysomela scripta) is an economically significant pest of cottonwood and other Populus . Chrysomela species serve as model organisms for studying plant-herbivore interactions and chemical .

Similar Taxa

  • CalligraphaBoth are leaf beetle in Chrysomelidae with -specific associations; Calligrapha are distinguished by dome-like shape and distinctive black and white or red elytral patterns, and are generally more host-specific at the genus level than Chrysomela

More Details

Chemical defense evolution

The ability to produce isobutyric acid and 2-methylbutyric acid esters appears to be a synapomorphy uniting the C. interrupta group sensu Brown (1956), suggesting this clade is monophyletic.

Research significance

Chrysomela aeneicollis has been studied since 1984 as a model for understanding local , persistence, and evolutionary responses to thermal variation in montane environments.

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Sources and further reading