Blepharida rhois

Adults recognized by combination of: cream ground color with irregular red-brown elytral markings; orange pronotum and head; enlarged hind femora with visible meta femoral spring mechanism; traverse setiferous punctures on clypeus (diagnostic for species within New World Blepharida). Larvae identified by gray-yellow coloration with pale stripes, black head, and presence of dorsal fecal shield. Distinguished from other flea beetles by exclusive association with Rhus host plants and specific geographic range.

Associated with Rhus (sumac) host plants in open, sunny environments; found in fields, ditches, and along edges where sumac grows; overwintering adults seek sheltered microhabitats under leaves, soil, or debris near feeding sites

North America; eastern distribution from Virginia west to Alberta and Montana; most common in northern regions; atypical outlier within Blepharida genus, which is otherwise restricted to tropical Africa and New World tropics

Adults active from early spring through September with peak larval feeding late May to early June; adults aestivate during July heat, re-emerging late summer; overwintering as adults in protected locations; two generations per summer maximum

Obligate specialist on Rhus (sumac); adults and larvae feed externally on leaf surfaces; larvae prefer youngest leaf tissue and flower buds; specifically associated with smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

• Rhus glabra - primary hostsmooth sumac

Eggs laid in clusters on branches and leaves, covered with fecal material; elliptical, 0.4 mm, white to yellowish-gray; hatch after approximately 10-14 days; four larval instars; first instars appear in early spring coinciding with leaf expansion; larvae feed 2-3 weeks before descending to soil to pupate; pupal stage approximately two weeks; adults emerge, feed through summer, overwinter; females oviposit over several weeks, laying several hundred eggs; maximum two generations per summer

Adults perform catapult jumps using meta femoral spring mechanism to escape predators; jumping involves four-phase physiological process with acceleration reaching maximum speed in under 1 ms; adults sedentary when food abundant, fly longer distances when resources scarce; larvae solitary on young leaflets, may line up in groups on older leaves; larvae construct and maintain dorsal fecal shields throughout feeding period using neuromuscular propulsion to transport feces from anal opening to back

Herbivore and folivore on Rhus; larval feeding can cause localized defoliation; patchy herbivory pattern influenced by plant secondary chemistry; fecal shields provide chemical defense derived from hydrolyzed host plant tannins; contributes to nutrient cycling through larval-pupal transition in soil

Considered minor pest of sumac; larval feeding can cause plant death if unmonitored; management includes monitoring leaves in mid-to-late May, soil disturbance during July pupation, and targeted insecticide application (Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis, carbamates, pyrethroids) when monitoring fails

• Blepharida dorotheaCongeneric species with similar color pattern; distinguished by clypeal morphology and geographic distribution (Mexico/Central America vs. temperate North America)
• Other Alticini flea beetlesShare jumping ability and general body form; distinguished by host specificity (Rhus), specific elytral pattern, and clypeal punctation

• flea beetle
• sumac specialist
• fecal shield defense
• catapult jumping
• temperate outlier

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy