Tricholochmaea
Laboissière, 1932
Species Guides
7- Tricholochmaea cavicollis(Cherry leaf beetle)
- Tricholochmaea decora(Pacific willow leaf beetle)
- Tricholochmaea kalmiae
- Tricholochmaea punctipennis(Pacific Willow Leaf Beetle)
- Tricholochmaea rufosanguinea
- Tricholochmaea tuberculata
- Tricholochmaea vaccinii(blueberry leaf beetle)
Tricholochmaea is a of leaf beetles in the Chrysomelidae, comprising 21 described and two . Members are known as skeletonizing leaf beetles and flea beetles, feeding on plant foliage in a characteristic pattern that leaves leaf intact. The genus includes several species associated with specific plants, such as the cherry leaf beetle (T. cavicollis), Pacific willow leaf beetle (T. decora), and blueberry leaf beetle (T. vaccinii). Taxonomic treatment varies, with some authors treating Tricholochmaea as a synonym of Pyrrhalta.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tricholochmaea: /ˌtɹɪkoʊloʊkˈmiːə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from related by combination of skeletonizing feeding damage pattern and consistent with Chrysomelidae. Separation from Pyrrhalta remains taxonomically contested; some authors do not recognize Tricholochmaea as distinct. Specific identifications require examination of plant associations and detailed morphological characters.
Images
Habitat
Associated with woody and herbaceous plants including alder, cherry, willow, Kalmia, Spiraea, blueberry, and currant. reflect host plant distribution across forested, riparian, and shrubland environments.
Distribution
North America. Distribution records include Vermont and broader United States range. Specific distributions vary with plant ranges.
Diet
Herbivorous. Larvae and feed on leaf tissue, producing skeletonized damage by consuming tissue between leaf . Documented plants include Alnus (alder), Prunus (cherry), Salix (willow), Kalmia, Spiraea, Vaccinium (blueberry), and Ribes (currant).
Host Associations
- Alnus - T. alni
- Prunus - T. cavicollis (cherry leaf beetle)
- Salix - T. decora (Pacific willow leaf beetle)
- Kalmia - T. kalmiae
- Spiraea - T. spiraeae, T. spiraeophila
- Vaccinium - T. vaccinii (blueberry leaf beetle)
- Ribes - T. ribicola
Ecological Role
Herbivore. Contributes to leaf damage on plants; may cause noticeable defoliation. Specific ecological impacts on plant and dynamics not well documented.
Human Relevance
Several are minor agricultural or horticultural pests due to feeding damage on economically important plants including cherry, blueberry, and currant. T. cavicollis, T. vaccinii, and T. ribicola have recognized reflecting their pest status on specific crops.
Similar Taxa
- PyrrhaltaTreated as synonym by some authors; morphological and ecological overlap in leaf beetle characteristics. Taxonomic distinction remains unresolved in literature.
More Details
Taxonomic Status
The is accepted in GBIF and NCBI , but synonymy with Pyrrhalta is proposed by some taxonomists. This uncertainty affects -level classification and identification keys.
Observation Data
iNaturalist records 685 observations, indicating moderate documentation effort for this in citizen science platforms.