Chrysomelidae
Guides
Aulacothorax melina
poison ivy leaf beetle
Aulacothorax melina is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the poison ivy leaf beetle. The species was formerly placed in the genus Orthaltica but has been reclassified to Aulacothorax. It is native to North America and is associated with poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) as a host plant. The beetle is one of relatively few insects that can feed on poison ivy, which contains urushiol, a compound that causes allergic reactions in most humans and deters many herbivores.
Aulacothorax recticollis
Aulacothorax recticollis is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was formerly placed in the genus Orthaltica but has been reclassified to Aulacothorax. It occurs across Central America and North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Baliosus
Baliosus is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, containing at least 40 described species. Members are classified within the subfamily Cassidinae, which includes both tortoise beetles and hispines. The genus was established by Weise in 1905. Species in this genus are primarily found in North America.
Baliosus californicus
Baliosus californicus is a leaf-mining tortoise beetle (Cassidinae) in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is found in western North America and Mexico, where adults feed on various Ceanothus species. It was described by Horn in 1883 and is characterized by distinctive elytral punctation and costate interspaces.
Baliosus ferrugineus
Baliosus ferrugineus is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. It was described by Staines in 2006. The species is known from North America, with records from Arizona. Like other members of the genus Baliosus, it belongs to the tribe Chalepini, a group of tortoise beetles characterized by their flattened, often expanded bodies and association with host plants.
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 detritus
Bassareus detritus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to a genus of small leaf beetles, with 'detritus' possibly referring to its association with decaying plant material.
Brachycoryna hardyi
Brachycoryna hardyi is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. It measures 2.5–3.7 mm as an adult and exhibits variable coloration with reddish-yellow and black patterning. The species has been recorded feeding on three Ceanothus species and occurs across western North America from Canada to Mexico.
Brachycoryna montana
Montana Tortoise Beetle
Brachycoryna montana is a small tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, measuring 2.5-3.4 mm in length. It is characterized by a uniformly black head, pronotum, and elytra. The species is distributed across western and central North America, from the Canadian prairies to the southwestern United States. Its specific food plant remains unknown, though adults have been collected on Artemisia species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).
Brachypnoea convexa
Brachypnoea convexa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, found in the Eastern United States. First described by Thomas Say in 1824, this species belongs to a genus of small leaf beetles. Very little has been published regarding its biology, ecology, or specific habitat requirements.
Brachypnoea lecontei
Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle
Brachypnoea lecontei is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was described in 2003 following taxonomic revision of LeConte's original 1858 specimen, which had been synonymized with Brachypnoea puncticollis until genetic and morphological study of type material confirmed its distinct status. It is found in the Great Plains of the United States and has a documented association with Texas live oak.
Brachypnoea rotundicollis
Brachypnoea rotundicollis is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It was described by American entomologist Charles Frederic August Schaeffer in 1906. The species has a restricted distribution in southeastern Texas, with only 11 documented observations. Little is known about its biology or ecology beyond basic taxonomic and distributional records.
Brachypnoea texana
Brachypnoea texana is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is endemic to the Edwards Plateau in Texas, with a restricted geographic range. The species was first described by American entomologist Charles Frederic August Schaeffer in 1919. Limited information is available regarding its biology and ecology.
Bromius obscurus
Western Grape Rootworm, Brown and Black Beetle
Bromius obscurus is a small leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) and the sole member of its genus. It is a Holarctic species with a notable geographic parthenogenesis pattern: North American populations reproduce sexually while European populations are triploid and reproduce asexually. The species is recognized as a pest of grape vines in Europe and western North America. Adults possess a stridulatory apparatus on the wings, the first documented in the subfamily Eumolpinae.
Bruchidius villosus
broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid
Bruchidius villosus is a small seed-feeding beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and introduced to North America and New Zealand as a biological control agent for Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). It has been deliberately released in the United States since the 1990s to reduce seed production in this invasive weed. In New Zealand, it has exhibited problematic host range expansion to non-target leguminous plants. The species is approximately 2 mm in length with dark gray coloration.
Bruchinae
Pea and Bean Weevils, Seed Beetles, Bean Weevils
Bruchinae is a subfamily of small beetles within Chrysomelidae, historically treated as a separate family (Bruchidae). Adults are typically 1.5–10 mm in length. Larvae develop entirely within seeds of legumes and other plants, completing their life cycle without leaving the host seed. The subfamily includes approximately 1,350 species worldwide. Many species are significant agricultural pests of stored legumes, with some introduced outside their native ranges through international trade.
Bruchini
seed beetles, bean weevils
Bruchini is a tribe of small beetles within the subfamily Bruchinae, commonly known as seed beetles or bean weevils. Despite their common name, they are true beetles (Coleoptera), not weevils (Curculionidae). Members of this tribe are characterized by their compact, oval bodies and association with legume and other plant seeds. The tribe contains numerous genera, including Bruchus and Acanthoscelides, many of which are significant agricultural pests.
Bruchus
seed beetles, bean beetles, bean weevils
Bruchus is a genus of seed beetles in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, comprising approximately 36 species. The genus is characterized by distinctive male genitalia morphology, including a large, sclerotized, boomerang-shaped ventral plate used in species identification. Members are specialized herbivores feeding almost exclusively on legumes in the tribe Fabeae (Vicieae), including peas, lentils, and vetches. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably B. lentis on lentils, B. pisorum on peas, and B. rufimanus on fava beans. The genus is primarily Palearctic in distribution, with some species introduced to North America, Africa, and Australia.
Bruchus brachialis
Vetch Bruchid
Bruchus brachialis, the vetch bruchid, is a univoltine seed beetle specialized on vetch (Vicia spp.). Adults emerge from overwintering sites in spring, feed on vetch flowers and pollen, and oviposit on developing pods. Larvae complete development within seeds, with new adults emerging to briefly feed before entering summer aestivation. The species shows tight phenological synchronization with host plant flowering and seed development. It occurs across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America, and is recognized as an agricultural pest of pulse crops.
Brucita
Brucita is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, established by Wilcox in 1965. The genus contains a single described species, Brucita marmorata. These beetles are known from limited localities in Texas (USA) and Guatemala.
Brucita marmorata
Marbled Palm Forest Leaf Beetle
Brucita marmorata is the sole described species in the genus Brucita, a group of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is known from Texas in the United States and Guatemala in Central America. The common name "Marbled Palm Forest Leaf Beetle" suggests association with palm forest habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cadiz
Cadiz is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, established by Andrews and Gilbert in 1992. The genus is distinguished by its placement within the diverse leaf beetle family, which contains numerous species associated with herbivory on vascular plants. Information regarding the specific morphology, species diversity, and ecological preferences of Cadiz remains limited in available literature.
Calligrapha alni
Russet Alder Leaf Beetle
Calligrapha alni, the russet alder leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae found in North America. The common name indicates an association with alder (Alnus spp.), though specific host plant details are limited in available sources. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it likely exhibits high host specificity, a trait characteristic of this northeastern North American genus.
Calligrapha amator
Ontario Calligrapha
Calligrapha amator, commonly known as the Ontario Calligrapha, is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It was described by W.J. Brown in 1945. The species is found in North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec in Canada.
Calligrapha apicalis
Calligrapha apicalis is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Notman in 1919. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it likely exhibits the characteristic dome-like body shape and patterned elytra typical of this group.
Calligrapha diversa
Calligrapha diversa is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Carl Stål in 1859. It belongs to the C. argus species group, characterized by distinctive elytral patterning including a single spot enclosed by humeral lunule and a complete arcuate band laterally confluent with a subsutural stripe. The species has one of the largest geographic ranges in its group, extending from the southwestern United States through Central America to northern South America. It has been recorded feeding on plants in the families Malvaceae and Solanaceae.
Calligrapha dolosa
Calligrapha dolosa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by W.J. Brown in 1945. It belongs to a genus known for highly host-specific feeding relationships with particular plant genera. The species is recorded from eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Québec. Like other members of Calligrapha, it likely exhibits the genus-characteristic dome-shaped body and patterned elytra, though specific diagnostic features for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Calligrapha floridana
Calligrapha floridana is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Schaeffer in 1934. The species is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it likely exhibits the characteristic dome-shaped body and distinctive elytral patterning for which the genus is named. Information specific to this species is limited.
Calligrapha fulvipes
Calligrapha fulvipes is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Stål in 1859. The genus Calligrapha is characterized by dome-like body shape and distinctive coloration patterns of black with white or red markings. Species within this genus are among the most host-specific phytophagous beetles, with most species relying on a single plant genus as host. The specific host associations and detailed biology of C. fulvipes are not well documented in available sources.
Calligrapha knabi
Calligrapha knabi is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Brown in 1940. The species is known from North America, with distribution records from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it exhibits the characteristic dome-like body shape and patterned elytra typical of this group of leaf beetles. Information on specific host plants, appearance details, and life history for this particular species remains limited in available sources.
Calligrapha lunata
Moon-marked Leaf Beetle
Calligrapha lunata, commonly known as the moon-marked leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is found in North America, with records from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the genus Calligrapha, it likely exhibits the dome-shaped body form and distinctive elytral patterning characteristic of this group.
Calligrapha multipunctata
common willow calligrapha, Common Willow Calligrapher Beetle
Calligrapha multipunctata is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the common willow calligrapha. The species is native to North America and is associated with willow (Salix) as a host plant. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it exhibits distinctive elytral patterning. Three subspecies have been described, though one (C. m. suturella) may represent a separate species.
Calligrapha philadelphica
Dogwood Leaf Beetle, dogwood calligrapha
Calligrapha philadelphica is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is known by the common names dogwood leaf beetle and dogwood calligrapha. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it is associated with dogwood (Cornus spp.) as its host plant.
Calligrapha pnirsa
leaf beetle
Calligrapha pnirsa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, found in North America. It is a univoltine species with adults emerging in spring to feed, mate, and oviposit on host plant foliage. Larvae develop through multiple instars feeding on leaves before dropping to the soil to pupate. New adults emerge in late summer, feed briefly, and overwinter to complete the annual cycle. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it exhibits strong host plant specificity.
Calligrapha praecelsis
Calligrapha praecelsis is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Rogers in 1856. It belongs to the genus Calligrapha, a group known for their distinctive, often ornate elytral markings. The species is found in North America, with records from Manitoba, Canada. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Calligrapha pruni
Calligrapha pruni is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, described by W.J. Brown in 1945. It is found in North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. Like other members of the genus Calligrapha, it is likely a host specialist, though specific host plant associations for this species are not documented in the provided sources.
Calligrapha rhoda
Calligrapha rhoda is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, occurring in North America. It is part of a genus known for extreme host specificity, with most species feeding on a single plant genus. This species closely resembles Calligrapha spiraeae and Calligrapha rowena in appearance, but is distinguished by its association with hazel (Corylus spp.) rather than ninebark or dogwood. Like other Calligrapha species, it exhibits reddish coloration with small black spots on the elytra.
Calligrapha rowena
Rowena's Leaf Beetle
Calligrapha rowena is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, found in North America. It is one of approximately 38 species in the genus Calligrapha, a group characterized by dome-like body shape and distinctive black and white or red coloration with variable elytral markings. The species is closely associated with hazel (Corylus spp.) as its host plant. It closely resembles C. spiraeae and C. rhoda but can be distinguished by its host plant association.
Calligrapha spiraeae
Ninebark Calligrapha Beetle
A leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae that is highly host-specific to ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). The species was described by Say in 1826 based on specimens collected from ninebark, which was then classified under the genus Spiraea—hence the species epithet spiraeae. Adults are reddish with small black spots on the elytra and are readily found on their host plant throughout the growing season. The species is notable among Calligrapha for its strict monophagy, utilizing no other known host plant besides ninebark.
Calligrapha verrucosa
Calligrapha verrucosa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the genus Calligrapha, it likely exhibits the characteristic dome-shaped body and distinctive elytral markings typical of the group, though specific morphological details for this species are poorly documented in the provided sources.
Calligrapha vicina
Calligrapha vicina is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, described by C. Schaeffer in 1933. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Québec in Canada. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits strong host plant specificity, though its specific host associations remain undocumented. The genus Calligrapha is characterized by dome-shaped bodies and distinctive black and white or reddish color patterns on the elytra.
Calligrapha wickhami
Calligrapha wickhami is a leaf beetle species in the subgenus Erythrographa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae), distinguished by reddish testaceous coloration extending to dark body parts including elytral markings. It is the only species in this subgenus not found in Mexico, being restricted to southern Texas. The subgenus Erythrographa is endemic to Central America and particularly diverse in the Mexican Transition Zone between the Nearctic and Neotropical realms.
Capraita
Capraita is a genus of flea beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, established by J. Bechyné in 1957. Species in this genus occur primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. The genus comprises approximately 16–60 described species, with estimates varying across sources. Like other flea beetles, members of this genus possess enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Capraita circumdata
Capraita circumdata is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is endemic to North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Québec, and other parts of Canada and the United States. The species belongs to a genus of leaf-feeding beetles that typically specialize on particular host plants.
Capraita flavida
Capraita flavida is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Alticinae. The species was originally described by Horn in 1889 as Stenopodius flavidus and later transferred to the genus Capraita. It occurs in North America and Middle America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Capraita nigrosignata
Germander Flea Beetle
Capraita nigrosignata is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is commonly known as the germander flea beetle. The species is distributed across North America and Central America. Its specific association with germander (Teucrium) as a host plant is reflected in its common name.
Capraita pervittata
Capraita pervittata is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Blake in 1927. The species is known from North America. Like other flea beetles, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Available information about this species is extremely limited.
Capraita quercata
Capraita quercata is a flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) native to North America. The species epithet "quercata" indicates an association with oak (Quercus). As a member of the Alticini tribe, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Observation records are sparse, with limited documentation of its biology and ecology.
Capraita scalaris
Capraita scalaris is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is relatively poorly documented in the scientific literature compared to other flea beetles.
Capraita subvittata
Belly-banded Flea Beetle
Capraita subvittata, commonly known as the Belly-banded Flea Beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is native to North America, with documented records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick) and the United States. As a member of the flea beetle tribe Alticini, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.