Aclypea bituberosa
(LeConte, 1859)
Western Spinach Carrion Beetle, Spinach Carrion Beetle
Aclypea bituberosa is a in the , notable for being herbivorous rather than like most of its relatives. and feed on leaves and shoots of various plants, particularly spinach and beets, causing occasional agricultural damage. The has a single per year, as adults. It is restricted to the northwestern quarter of North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aclypea bituberosa: //əˈklɪ.pi.ə baɪ.tuː.bəˈroʊ.sa//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
The deeply cleft is the definitive character for Aclypea. A. bituberosa is distinguished from the only other North , A. opaca (Beet ), by its much broader distribution and by the pair of raised on the ; A. opaca is restricted to Alaska and the Northwest Territories. The three longitudinal ridges on each elytron also aid recognition.
Images
Habitat
Occurs on plains and in mountain meadows. and are associated with plants in agricultural fields and weedy areas.
Distribution
Northwestern quarter of the United States and adjacent southern Canada: British Columbia and Washington south to central California east of the Sierra Nevada, and eastward to northeast Nebraska and southeast Manitoba. More common east of the Continental Divide than in the Pacific Northwest.
Seasonality
active from March through November. Adults emerge early in spring, with peak damage to beets and spinach occurring in May. One per year.
Diet
and feed on leaves and shoots of various plants. include spinach, beets, pumpkin, squash, radish, rhubarb, potato, lettuce, cabbage, turnip, rapeseed, and wheat. Weedy hosts include lamb's quarters, povertyweed, and other Chenopodiaceae, plus nightshade (Solanaceae).
Host Associations
- Spinacia oleracea - feeds onsuffers most damage in May
- Beta vulgaris - feeds onsuffers most damage in May
- Chenopodium album - feeds onlamb's quarters
- Solanum - feeds onnightshade
Life Cycle
One per year. Females lay in soil shortly after spring ; eggs hatch in about one week. feed during the day on foliage, hiding in soil at night. Three : first two each last ~5 days, third instar lasts ~15 days. occurs in soil at 1–2 inches depth; emerges in ~3 weeks. Adults overwinter.
Behavior
exhibit feeding , retreating to soil at night. are active on the ground surface and on plants.
Ecological Role
in agricultural and . Unusual among for being rather than carrion-feeding.
Human Relevance
Occasional agricultural pest, particularly of spinach and beet . Damage is most significant in May.
Similar Taxa
- Aclypea opacaAlso has cleft , but restricted to Alaska and Northwest Territories; A. bituberosa has broader distribution and elytral
- Other SilphidaeMost are and lack the cleft ; A. bituberosa is distinguished by herbivorous habit and diagnostic labral notch
More Details
Taxonomic note
Despite the ',' this is . The contains both and herbivorous members.
Family classification discrepancy
Some sources (GBIF, iNaturalist, Catalogue of Life) list as the , but this is erroneous; A. bituberosa is correctly placed in .