Phyllobrotica circumdata

Phyllobrotica circumdata can be distinguished from other Phyllobrotica species by its elytral pattern. It is most similar to P. discoidea, a name under which it was originally recorded in Missouri. Identification requires examination of genitalic characters or comparison with reliably determined specimens. No online images of this species were available as of 2019.

Associated with wet bottomland habitats where host plants in the genus Scutellaria grow. In Missouri, collected on Scutellaria incana in eastern counties.

North America, with records from Ontario, Canada and the eastern United States. In the United States, documented from Missouri (eastern counties), with historical specimens collected in the late 1800s and a small series collected in the late 1970s.

Specialized herbivore feeding on Scutellaria incana (downy skullcap), a mint family plant. Larvae likely feed on roots or lower stems, as is typical for the genus.

• Scutellaria incana - primary hostAll Missouri specimens collected on this species

As a skeletonizing leaf beetle, adults feed on leaf tissue between veins, potentially contributing to population regulation of its host plant. Its extreme host specialization makes it vulnerable to habitat loss affecting Scutellaria populations.

• Phyllobrotica discoideaP. circumdata was originally misidentified as this species in Missouri records; they share similar elytral patterns requiring careful examination to distinguish
• Phyllobrotica limbataMost commonly encountered Phyllobrotica species in Missouri, but readily distinguished by host plant (Scutellaria ovata or S. lateriflora versus S. incana for P. circumdata)
• Phyllobrotica lengiAnother rare Missouri Phyllobrotica species, distinguished by association with Scutellaria parvula rather than S. incana

• rare
• host specialist
• Chrysomelidae
• Scutellaria
• skeletonizing leaf beetle
• Missouri endemic rarity

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Insecta | Beetles In The Bush | Page 9