Chrysomelidae
Guides
Pachyonychus paradoxus
Greenbriar Leaf Beetle
Pachyonychus paradoxus is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, representing the sole described species in its genus. It occurs in the United States and is commonly known as the Greenbriar Leaf Beetle. The species was first described by F.E. Melsheimer in 1847. As a member of the flea beetle group, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The genus Pachyonychus is monotypic, with no other described species.
Paranapiacaba
Paranapiacaba is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles and flea beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The genus contains at least two described species. The name is derived from Tupi-Guarani, meaning 'where you will find the sea' or 'a place to view the sea,' and is also the name of a historic railway town and forested mountain region in southeastern Brazil.
Paranapiacaba connexa
Twin-Shield Leaf Beetle
Paranapiacaba connexa is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The common name "Twin-Shield Leaf Beetle" refers to its distinctive elytral pattern. Like other members of its family, it is herbivorous and feeds on plant foliage.
Paratriarius dorsatus
skeletonizing leaf beetle
Paratriarius dorsatus is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. It is found in North America. The species belongs to a genus of leaf beetles characterized by their skeletonizing feeding behavior on plant foliage. Very little specific biological information is documented for this particular species.
Parchicola
Parchicola is a genus of flea beetles (Chrysomelidae) containing at least four described species. These small beetles are distributed across North America and the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Bechyné and Springlová de Bechyné in 1975.
Parchicola tibialis
Orange Passiflora Flea Beetle
Parchicola tibialis is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is commonly known as the Orange Passiflora Flea Beetle. The species is distributed across North America.
Paria arizonensis
Paria arizonensis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Wilcox in 1957. It is found in North America. The genus Paria comprises multiple species of leaf beetles, though specific details about the biology and ecology of P. arizonensis remain poorly documented in published literature.
Paria fragariae-complex
Paria fragariae-complex is a species complex of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. Members of this complex are associated with strawberry (Fragaria) and related plants. The complex designation indicates taxonomic uncertainty, with multiple cryptic or poorly differentiated species grouped under this name. These beetles are part of the subfamily Eumolpinae, a group of small to medium-sized leaf beetles often associated with specific host plants.
Paria pratensis
Paria pratensis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Eumolpinae. It is found in the eastern United States and eastern Canada, with confirmed records from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and the eastern United States. The species has been documented feeding on the prairie rose (Rosa setigera), though its full host range remains incompletely known. Like other members of the genus Paria, it likely feeds on foliage of its host plants.
Paria quadriguttata
Willow Paria, willow parium
Paria quadriguttata is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the willow parium. The species occurs in Central and North America. As a member of the genus Paria, it is associated with willow hosts (Salix spp.), though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available sources.
Paria quadrinotata
Four-marked Oval Leaf Beetle
Paria quadrinotata is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. It is native to North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States (Vermont). The common name "Four-marked Oval Leaf Beetle" refers to its characteristic color pattern. As a member of the genus Paria, it belongs to a group of small, oval leaf beetles associated with foliage feeding.
Paria thoracica
Paria thoracica is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Melsheimer in 1847. As a member of the genus Paria, it belongs to a group of leaf beetles that feed on plant foliage.
Paria virginiae
Paria virginiae is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Wilcox in 1957. The species is known to occur in North America. As a member of the genus Paria, it belongs to a group of leaf beetles whose members are typically associated with feeding on plant foliage. Very few specific details about its biology, host associations, or ecology have been documented in the available literature.
Paropsis
tortoise beetles
Paropsis is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) comprising over 70 described species. Members are small, brightly colored, and hemispherical in shape, leading to frequent misidentification as ladybirds (Coccinellidae). The genus is native to Australasia and has become established in some regions outside its native range through accidental introduction. Several species are significant defoliators of Eucalyptus and are considered economic pests in forestry plantations.
Paropsisterna
leaf beetles, eucalyptus leaf beetles
Paropsisterna is a genus of chrysomelid leaf beetles containing over 120 species native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Many species exhibit bright aposematic coloration and feed on Myrtaceae, particularly Eucalyptus. Several species have become invasive pests in New Zealand and Europe, causing significant defoliation of eucalypt plantations and ornamental trees. The genus was redefined in 2006 to include species formerly placed in Chrysophtharta and other genera.
Parorectis arenaria
Parorectis arenaria is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Riley in 2020. The specific epithet 'arenaria' (Latin for 'of sand') suggests an association with sandy habitats. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited. It belongs to a genus within the diverse leaf beetle family, whose members are primarily herbivorous and often associated with specific host plants.
Parorectis callosa
Parorectis callosa is a species of tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. First described by Boheman in 1854, this beetle is known from North America. Tortoise beetles in this genus are characterized by their distinctive domed, tortoise-like body shape and association with host plants.
Pentispa
Pentispa is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are classified in the tribe Chalepini, a group characterized by spiny or flattened body forms adapted for living on leaf surfaces.
Pentispa sallaei
Pentispa sallaei is a tortoise beetle in the subfamily Cassidinae, tribe Chalepini. The species was originally described from Mexico and has been established in Florida, USA. A host plant was reported for the first time in 2021, though the specific plant identity was not detailed in available sources. The species is characterized by distinctive elytral punctation and thoracic armature.
Phaedon
Phaedon is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. Species in this genus are associated with feeding on plant foliage, with some species documented as agricultural pests. The genus has been recorded across Europe and Asia, with at least one species, P. brassicae, known from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Members are small to medium-sized beetles typical of the Chrysomelidae family.
Phaedon desotonis
desoto leaf beetle, coreopsis leaf beetle
Phaedon desotonis is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It has been observed in large populations on Coreopsis species in central Georgia, where it was previously considered rare. The species completes one generation per year, with peak larval abundance in April and greatest adult numbers in May.
Phaedon laevigatus
watercress leaf beetle
Phaedon laevigatus, commonly known as the watercress leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is associated with watercress and related plants in the family Brassicaceae. The specific epithet 'laevigatus' refers to the smooth or polished appearance of the elytra.
Phaedon viridis
watercress leaf beetle
Phaedon viridis, commonly known as the watercress leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America and has been documented across multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The species is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats where its host plants grow.
Phratora
Phratora is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) distributed across the Northern Hemisphere in cool, moist regions where their host plants occur. The genus is synonymous with Phyllodecta. Species in this genus feed primarily on willows (Salix), poplars (Populus), or birch (Betula), with host plant associations showing evolutionary conservation—closely related beetle species tend to feed on closely related plant species. European species are difficult to distinguish by external morphology alone and require examination of female genitalia for reliable identification. Several species, particularly Phratora vulgatissima, are economically significant pests of short-rotation coppice willow plantations.
Phratora americana
Phratora americana is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America, with records from Ontario, Quebec, and high elevations in the eastern United States. The species feeds on willow species (Salix) and exhibits variable coloration ranging from purple to blue or blue-green. Two subspecies are recognized: Phratora americana americana and Phratora americana canadensis.
Phratora hudsonia
birch leaf beetle
Phratora hudsonia is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the birch leaf beetle. It is found in North America, with documented populations in Ontario, Canada, as well as Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The species feeds exclusively on birch leaves and has been the subject of biological study focusing on its seasonal occurrence, habits, and immature stages.
Phydanis
Phydanis is a genus of flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) containing two described species. The genus was established by Horn in 1889. Species in this genus are uncommonly encountered and poorly documented in the literature. One species, P. bicolor, has been recorded from Texas with a confirmed adult host association, though specific host plants are not detailed in available sources.
Phydanis bicolor
Texas Snakeherb Flea Beetle
Phydanis bicolor is a rarely collected flea beetle in the tribe Alticini, subfamily Galerucinae. It is known from Texas and is among the least frequently encountered species of its genus. The species has been documented from very few collections, with recent work providing the first adult host record.
Phyllecthris dorsalis
Leaf beetle
Phyllecthris dorsalis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It has been recorded from the eastern United States. The species is associated with Fabaceae host plants, specifically Amorpha and Desmodium species.
Phyllobrotica
skeletonizing leaf beetles, flea beetles
Phyllobrotica is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, containing at least 18 described species in North America. Members are small, often brightly colored beetles known as skeletonizing leaf beetles and flea beetles. Most North American species are extreme host specialists, feeding almost exclusively on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), particularly genera Scutellaria and Stachys. One species, P. physostegiae, has been documented on Physostegia, representing an unusual host transfer to a related mint family genus in dry prairie habitats.
Phyllobrotica circumdata
skeletonizing leaf beetle
Phyllobrotica circumdata is a skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is among the rarest leaf beetles in Missouri, with most records consisting of eight specimens collected in the late 1970s. The species has a broad North American distribution but is infrequently encountered. It is a host specialist, feeding on plants in the genus Scutellaria (skullcaps) in the mint family.
Phyllobrotica costipennis
skeletonizing leaf beetle
Phyllobrotica costipennis is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1893. It is recorded from North America, though specific details about its distribution, host plants, and biology remain poorly documented compared to congeners. Like other Phyllobrotica species, it likely exhibits strong host plant specialization.
Phyllobrotica decorata
Phyllobrotica decorata is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) and the United States. Like other members of the genus Phyllobrotica, it is believed to be a host specialist, though specific host plant associations for this species remain poorly documented compared to congeners.
Phyllobrotica lengi
Phyllobrotica lengi is an exceptionally rare leaf beetle endemic to eastern North America. First described by Blatchley in 1910, this species remained virtually unknown in Missouri until a small series was collected in 1988 on Scutellaria parvula. It is one of the rarest beetles in Missouri, with only four historical specimens known prior to the 1988 collection. Like other Phyllobrotica species, it is an extreme host specialist, feeding exclusively on skullcap plants (Scutellaria).
Phyllobrotica nigritarsis
Phyllobrotica nigritarsis is a rare leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) endemic to the central United States. The species was historically known from only four specimens collected in Missouri during the late 1800s until a small series was collected in 1987. It is an extreme host specialist, feeding exclusively on Scutellaria parvula (small skullcap), a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Like other Phyllobrotica species, it inhabits wet bottomland habitats rather than dry prairies.
Phyllobrotica sequoiensis
Phyllobrotica sequoiensis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Blake in 1956. It is found in North America, though specific details about its distribution, habitat preferences, and biology remain poorly documented. The genus Phyllobrotica comprises highly host-specialized beetles, with most species feeding exclusively on plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), particularly the genera Stachys and Scutellaria.
Phyllobrotica sororia
Four-spotted Texas Phyllobrotica
Phyllobrotica sororia is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is endemic to Texas, making it one of the most geographically restricted species in the genus Phyllobrotica. Like other members of this genus, it exhibits extreme host plant specialization.
Phyllotreta bipustulata
woodland flea beetle
Phyllotreta bipustulata, commonly known as the woodland flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded in Canadian provinces including Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec. As a member of the flea beetle group, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is part of a genus containing several economically significant agricultural pests, though specific details about this particular species' ecology remain limited.
Phyllotreta chalybeipennis
Phyllotreta chalybeipennis is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is distributed in the Caribbean and North America. Both larvae and adults are associated with the host plant Cakile edentula (American sea rocket), with larvae mining leaves and adults feeding on foliage. Like other members of the genus Phyllotreta, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Phyllotreta conjuncta
Phyllotreta conjuncta is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Gentner in 1924. The species is distributed across North America, with confirmed records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. As a member of the genus Phyllotreta, it belongs to a group commonly known as flea beetles, characterized by their jumping ability. Very little specific information is available about this particular species beyond its basic taxonomy and distribution.
Phyllotreta constricta
A flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, native to western North America. As with other Phyllotreta species, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species was described by E.H. Smith in 1985 and is documented from the Canadian prairie provinces.
Phyllotreta denticornis
Phyllotreta denticornis is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1889. It belongs to the tribe Alticini, a group characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is documented from North America, with specific records from British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of the genus Phyllotreta, it is associated with cruciferous plants, though species-specific ecological details remain limited.
Phyllotreta liebecki
Phyllotreta liebecki is a small flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1919. It is found in North America, with records from Manitoba and Ontario in Canada. The species measures 1.75–2.5 mm in length. As a member of the Alticini tribe, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles that enable jumping locomotion.
Phyllotreta pusilla
Western Black Flea Beetle
Phyllotreta pusilla, commonly known as the western black flea beetle, is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America, with documented presence in regions including Alberta, Canada and Colorado, USA. The species is recognized as an agricultural pest of canola and mustard crops, where it causes plant injury through feeding damage. Research has identified significant variation in host plant susceptibility among different canola and mustard varieties.
Phyllotreta ramosa
Western Striped Flea Beetle
Phyllotreta ramosa, known as the western striped flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America. As a member of the flea beetle tribe Alticini, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology.
Phyllotreta robusta
garden flea beetle
Phyllotreta robusta, commonly known as the garden flea beetle, is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the genus Phyllotreta, it shares the characteristic jumping ability of flea beetles. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 7 records on iNaturalist.
Phyllotreta striolata
Striped Flea Beetle, Turnip Flea Beetle
Phyllotreta striolata is a small flea beetle (1.5–2.5 mm) in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Eurasia and now distributed worldwide. It is a major pest of Brassicaceae crops, causing substantial yield losses through adult feeding on aboveground plant parts and larval feeding on roots. The species exhibits strong positive phototaxis with peak sensitivity to blue wavelengths (350–430 nm). It has been recorded from diverse habitats including open prairie, boreal forest, and agricultural systems across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Phyllotreta zimmermanni
Zimmerman's flea beetle
Phyllotreta zimmermanni, commonly known as Zimmerman's flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It has a holarctic distribution and is present in North America, where it is considered invasive. The species belongs to a genus known for including significant agricultural pests that damage cruciferous crops.
Physonota alutacea
wild olive tortoise beetle
Physonota alutacea, commonly known as the wild olive tortoise beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It belongs to the tortoise beetle subfamily Cassidinae, characterized by the distinctive domed body shape typical of this group. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America. It is associated with wild olive (Cordia boissieri) and related host plants.
Physonota calochroma floridensis
Physonota calochroma floridensis is a synonymized subspecies of tortoise beetle originally described from Florida. The name was proposed by Blake in 1965 but is currently treated as a synonym of Eurypepla jamaicensis (formerly Physonota calochroma). Tortoise beetles in this group are characterized by their domed, turtle-like carapace formed from modified elytra and pronotum. The species to which this subspecies belongs exhibits rapid color-changing abilities, shifting from silvery-green to brownish tones within seconds in response to environmental stimuli.