Case-bearing
Guides
Anomoea flavokansiensis
Anomoea flavokansiensis is a case-bearing leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) described by Moldenke in 1970. It is known from North America and has been studied as a herbivore of the legume Desmanthus illinoensis, where high population densities can potentially reduce seed yield. Research has examined its overwintering biology and the effects of agricultural polyculture on its population density.
Bassareus
case-bearing leaf beetles
Bassareus is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Haldeman in 1849. The genus contains approximately eight described species. These beetles are characterized by their habit of constructing protective cases from fecal material and plant debris. Bassareus is part of the diverse leaf beetle fauna of North America, with documented records from the United States including Vermont.
Bassareus brunnipes
Bassareus brunnipes is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, whose larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and exuviae.
Coleorozena fulvilabris
Coleorozena fulvilabris is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Coleorozena, it belongs to a group of leaf beetles known for constructing protective larval cases from fecal material and shed exuviae.
Coleothorpa axillaris
A case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae with eight recognized subspecies. The species exhibits notable geographic variation across its range in Central and North America. Subspecies were described primarily by Moldenke in 1970, with additional earlier descriptions by LeConte and Dahl.
Coleothorpa dominicana
Lord Leaf Beetle
Coleothorpa dominicana is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America. The species is notable for its maternal egg protection behavior, in which females construct funnel-shaped structures to shield their eggs. Development from egg to adult takes approximately one year, with a larval period lasting 5 to 8 months.
Cryptocephalus
Cryptocephalus is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, belonging to the Camptosomata, a group commonly known as case-bearing leaf beetles. The genus is characterized by larvae that construct protective cases from their own fecal matter. It is a large and widespread genus with numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, though individual species often have restricted ranges and specialized host plant associations.
Cryptocephalus alternans
Cryptocephalus alternans is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It occurs in southwestern North America, including California, Arizona, and Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: C. a. alternans and C. a. jungovittatus, with the latter measuring 4.7–5.0 mm in length.
Cryptocephalus guttulatus
Fourteen-spotted Leaf Beetle
Cryptocephalus guttulatus, commonly known as the fourteen-spotted leaf beetle, is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is found in North America, with documented records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. It belongs to a large genus of leaf beetles known for their rounded, compact bodies and protective larval cases. The common name refers to the spotted pattern on its elytra.
Cryptocephalus pubicollis
Cryptocephalus pubicollis is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was described by Linell in 1898. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Cryptocephalus, adults construct portable cases from their own excrement and shed exoskeletons, which they carry throughout their lives.
Cryptocephalus quadruplex
Black and Red Sumac Leaf Beetle
Cryptocephalus quadruplex is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species occurs across North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario) and the United States. As a member of the case-bearing leaf beetles, its larvae construct protective cases from fecal matter and sometimes plant debris. The species has been observed on sumac (Rhus) and other vegetation in prairie and open woodland habitats.
Griburius larvatus
Griburius larvatus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, occurring in North America. Adults measure 4.32–5.6 mm in length. As a member of the Clytrini tribe, it exhibits the characteristic behavior of constructing protective larval cases from fecal material and plant debris.
Neochlamisus
warty leaf beetles
Neochlamisus is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the tribe Fulcidacini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. Adults measure 3–4 mm and exhibit cryptic coloration resembling caterpillar frass. The genus comprises 17–18 species restricted to North America, including Mexico. These beetles are notable for their elaborate fecal case construction by larvae and have become important model organisms for studying host-associated speciation, particularly in N. bebbianae, which exhibits distinct host forms on different tree species.
Neochlamisus bimaculatus
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus bimaculatus is a small case-bearing leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. The species is associated with Rubus spp., including blackberry, on which it mates, feeds, and oviposits. Like other members of the Camptosomata, it exhibits remarkable mimicry of caterpillar frass for protection against predators.
Neochlamisus comptoniae
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus comptoniae is a small warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Like other members of the tribe Chlamisini, adults exhibit remarkable fecal mimicry—resembling caterpillar frass in size, shape, texture, and coloration. When disturbed, they retract their head and fold legs and antennae into precise grooves, eliminating any indication of being an insect. The species is associated with sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), a plant in the family Myricaceae.
Pachybrachis dubiosus
Pachybrachis dubiosus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It was described by J.L. LeConte in 1880. The species belongs to a genus characterized by small, rounded leaf beetles that often carry egg cases or debris on their bodies. Records indicate presence in North America, with observations documented in the southwestern United States.
Pachybrachis mobilis
Pachybrachis mobilis is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Fall in 1915. The species belongs to a genus of small, often colorful beetles known for their hardened forewings that protect the hindwings and abdomen. It is native to North America. Available information on this species is limited, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Tinea
Tinea is a genus of fungus moths in the family Tineidae, established as one of the earliest subgroups of moths. It is the type genus of both its family and subfamily. Historically, the genus encompassed many species now placed in other genera. Species within Tinea include economically significant pests such as the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella).
Urodera
Urodera is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, established by Lacordaire in 1848. The genus comprises nine described species distributed in the Americas, with most species described by Monros and others by Lacordaire, Jacoby, and Schaeffer. These beetles are characterized by their association with leaf case-bearing behavior, a trait shared with other members of their subfamily.