Crepidodera browni

Parry, 1986

Metallic Brown Flea Beetle

Crepidodera browni is a flea beetle in the Chrysomelidae, first described by Parry in 1986. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Alberta and Ontario in Canada. As a member of the Crepidodera, it shares the characteristic jumping ability of flea beetles, enabled by enlarged hind . Information regarding its , , and specific associations remains limited.

Crepidodera browni by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Crepidodera browni: /krɛpɪˈdoʊdərə ˈbraʊni/

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Identification

Crepidodera browni can be distinguished from other North American Crepidodera by the combination of its metallic brown coloration and specific genitalic characters described in the original species description. Accurate identification requires examination of male genitalia. It may be confused with other small, metallic flea beetles in the Chaetocnema or Altica, but differs in body proportions and antennal structure. The species epithet 'browni' references its characteristic coloration.

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Distribution

North America. Confirmed records from Alberta and Ontario, Canada. The full extent of its range within North America has not been comprehensively documented.

Similar Taxa

Chaetocnema quadricollisSimilar small size, metallic coloration, and association with herbaceous plants. Chaetocnema quadricollis can be distinguished by its association with Hibiscus and subtle differences in pronotal and elytral .
Other Crepidodera speciesCongeneric share general body form and jumping . C. browni is distinguished by specific male genitalic characters and its particular metallic brown coloration.

More Details

Taxonomic Authority

The was formally described by Parry in 1986, making it a relatively recently described flea beetle. The original description provides the definitive diagnostic characters for identification.

Data Deficiency

Despite being a described , Crepidodera browni remains poorly known biologically. Only 11 observations are recorded in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff, indicating it is infrequently encountered or underreported.