Phyllobrotica sequoiensis
Blake, 1956
Phyllobrotica sequoiensis is a of leaf beetle in the Chrysomelidae, described by Blake in 1956. It is found in North America, though specific details about its distribution, preferences, and remain poorly documented. The Phyllobrotica comprises highly -specialized beetles, with most species feeding exclusively on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), particularly the genera Stachys and Scutellaria.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Phyllobrotica sequoiensis: /ˌfɪloʊˈbrɒtɪkə sɪˌkwɔɪˈɛn.sɪs/
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Distribution
North America. Specific geographic range details are not well documented.
Similar Taxa
- Phyllobrotica limbataMost commonly encountered Phyllobrotica in Missouri, regularly found on Scutellaria ovata and S. lateriflora
- Phyllobrotica physostegiaeMissouri prairie described in 1979, feeds on Physostegia virginiana rather than typical Scutellaria
- Phyllobrotica lengiRare Missouri historically known from only four 19th-century specimens until small series collected in 1988
- Phyllobrotica nigritarsisRare Missouri historically known from only four 19th-century specimens until small series collected in 1987
- Phyllobrotica circumdataMost widely distributed Phyllobrotica in North America, first collected in Missouri in the late 1970s
More Details
Host plant specialization
in the Phyllobrotica are extreme . Most restrict feeding to plants within the mint (Lamiaceae), with western U.S. species typically on Stachys and non-western species on Scutellaria. The unusual host shift of P. physostegiae to Physostegia has been attributed to its prairie , where Scutellaria species are less predictably available than Physostegia.
Taxonomic context
Eighteen and one of Phyllobrotica are known from North America. Five species have been recorded in Missouri: P. limbata, P. physostegiae, P. circumdata, P. lengi, and P. nigritarsis. Phyllobrotica sequoiensis is not among the Missouri species, suggesting a more western or different regional distribution within North America.
Data deficiency
This has only one observation record in iNaturalist and minimal published biological information. Most aspects of its , associations, and distribution remain unknown.