Chlamisini
Guides
Chlamisus quadrilobatus
Chlamisus quadrilobatus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1926. Like other members of the genus Chlamisus, adults construct protective cases from fecal material and plant debris that cover the entire body. The species has been recorded from regions in North America and Middle America. Published biological information is limited, reflecting its rarity in collections and limited observational records.
Chlamisus texanus
warty leaf beetle
Chlamisus texanus is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, a group known for their distinctive sculptured, warty appearance. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with woody vegetation, though specific host plant relationships remain poorly documented.
Exema deserti
Exema deserti is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Pierce in 1940. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles, which are characterized by their remarkable mimicry of caterpillar frass. The species is found in Central America and North America.
Exema elliptica
warty leaf beetle
Exema elliptica is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Karren in 1966. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles, which are characterized by their remarkable feces-mimicry defense. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and host associations remain poorly documented.
Exema mormona
warty leaf beetle
Exema mormona is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Karren in 1966. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, whose members are known for their remarkable mimicry of caterpillar frass. The species occurs in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in published literature.
Exema neglecta
warty leaf beetle
Exema neglecta is a species of warty leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Adults are small, measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length. The species exhibits remarkable frass-mimicry, resembling caterpillar droppings in size, shape, texture, and coloration. When disturbed, the beetle retracts its head, legs, and antennae into precisely matched grooves, completing the illusion of inanimate debris. This species is found in North America.
Neochlamisus bebbianae
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus bebbianae is a small case-bearing leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. This species has been extensively studied as a model system for ecological speciation, with populations forming distinct host forms specialized on different plant species across six genera in five families. Research has demonstrated host-associated ecological divergence, reproductive isolation, and ongoing speciation processes. The species is part of a complex where different host forms show pre- and post-mating reproductive barriers.
Neochlamisus chamaedaphnes
Neochlamisus chamaedaphnes is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. Members of this genus are renowned for their remarkable frass-mimicry crypsis—when disturbed, they retract their head, legs, and antennae into precisely matched grooves, becoming nearly indistinguishable from caterpillar droppings. The species epithet references its association with leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), a bog plant in the Ericaceae family. This species occurs in eastern Canada and presumably adjacent northeastern United States.
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.
Neochlamisus eubati
Blackberry Case-bearing Leaf Beetle, warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus eubati is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles. Adults are small beetles, typically 3–4 mm in length, with a compact body form adapted for crypsis. The species is known from Central America and North America, with records extending into Alberta, Canada. Like other members of the genus, larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and exuviae.
Neochlamisus gibbosus
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus gibbosus is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, found in Central and North America. The species exhibits remarkable frass-mimicry as adults, with a compact, humped body that closely resembles caterpillar excrement. Females lay single eggs covered in frass, forming bell-shaped protective coverings. Larvae are case-bearing, constructing portable cases from their own feces and attaching them to host plants during molting. When threatened, both adults and larvae release a yellow defensive liquid. The species has been studied in detail from populations on Rubus laudatus in Kansas.
Neochlamisus platani
sycamore leaf beetle
Neochlamisus platani, commonly known as the sycamore leaf beetle, is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Adults are bronze to brown in color with a rough, bumpy exoskeleton that provides camouflage against bark and debris. The species is tightly associated with its host plant, the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), where it feeds, mates, and oviposits. Both adults and larvae consume sycamore foliage, and heavy infestations can reduce foliage mass and damage ornamental value.
Neochlamisus scabripennis
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus scabripennis is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It belongs to the tribe Chlamisini, commonly known as warty leaf beetles due to their distinctive irregular, tuberculate body surface. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits remarkable mimicry of caterpillar frass (feces) as a defensive adaptation.
Neochlamisus velutinus
warty leaf beetle
Neochlamisus velutinus is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America. Like other members of the tribe Chlamisini, it exhibits remarkable frass-mimicry, resembling caterpillar excrement when disturbed.