Chrysomelidae
Guides
Hilarocassis
Hilarocassis is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae. It contains approximately 10 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Spaeth in 1913 and belongs to the subfamily Cassidinae, tribe Mesomphaliini. Species in this genus exhibit the characteristic tortoise beetle body form with a broad, flattened shape and expanded elytral margins.
Hippuriphila
A genus of flea beetles in the family Chrysomelidae containing three described species distributed across the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. The genus was established by Foudras in 1859. American specimens were historically misidentified as the Eurasian species H. adonidis until taxonomic revision established H. americana as a distinct species based on aedeagus morphology.
Hippuriphila canadensis
Horsetail Flea Beetle
A small flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by W.J. Brown in 1942. The species is endemic to North America with confirmed records from western Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the genus Hippuriphila, it is associated with horsetail plants (Equisetum), though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented. The common name reflects this presumed ecological association.
Hippuriphila equiseti
Hippuriphila equiseti is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Beller and Hatch in 1932. It belongs to a small genus of specialized beetles associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic host plants. The species is documented from western Canada and is likely associated with horsetail rushes (Equisetum), as suggested by both its specific epithet and the genus name Hippuriphila (meaning 'horse-tail loving').
Hornaltica bicolorata
leaf-feeding beetle
Hornaltica bicolorata is a leaf-feeding beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species has been deployed as a biological control agent against the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus in East Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Uganda, where it has demonstrated consistent establishment. It was previously known under the synonym Zygogramma bicolorata in biocontrol literature. The beetle contributes to integrated pest management programs by defoliating the target weed.
Ischyrosonychini
Ischyrosonychini is a tribe of tortoise beetles and hispines within the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, established by Chapuis in 1875. The tribe comprises approximately 7 genera and 60-70 described species, including the genera Asteriza, Cistudinella, Enagria, Eurypedus, Eurypepla, Physonota, and Platycycla. Juvenile stages have been described for members of this tribe. Members are distributed in the Americas, with at least one species (Physonota disjuncta) recently documented in the United States.
Isotes
Isotes is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae. The genus contains approximately 180 described species and is restricted to the Neotropical region. Species in this genus feed on leaf tissue between veins, producing a characteristic skeletonized damage pattern on host plants.
Jonthonota mexicana
Jonthonota mexicana is a species of tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Champion in 1894. It belongs to the subfamily Cassidinae, characterized by the distinctive flattened, shield-like body form typical of tortoise beetles. The species is known to occur in both Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Jonthonota, it shares affinities with other morning glory-associated tortoise beetles.
Jonthonota nigripes
blacklegged tortoise beetle
Jonthonota nigripes, the blacklegged tortoise beetle, is a tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It occurs in North and Central America. The species is associated with morning glories and related plants in the family Convolvulaceae.
Kuschelina
Kuschelina is a genus of flea beetles (family Chrysomelidae) established by J. Bechyné in 1951. The genus comprises approximately 20–30 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles are part of the diverse flea beetle lineage, characterized by their enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Kuschelina fimbriata
A flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, distributed across North and Middle America. The species was originally described by Forster in 1771 and has been recorded in 27 iNaturalist observations. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles, enabling jumping locomotion.
Kuschelina laeta
Pleasing Kuschelina
Kuschelina laeta is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species occurs in Central America and North America. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles, which enable jumping. The common name "Pleasing Kuschelina" is used on iNaturalist.
Kuschelina petaurista
Eastern Five-striped Kuschelina
Kuschelina petaurista is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Fabricius in 1801. It is known from North America and is referred to by the common name Eastern Five-striped Kuschelina. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles, which enable jumping locomotion. The species has been documented in citizen science observations, with over 275 records on iNaturalist.
Kuschelina tenuilineata
Kuschelina tenuilineata is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It was described by Horn in 1889. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the flea beetle subfamily Alticinae, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Kuschelina thoracica
Freckle-necked Kuschelina
Kuschelina thoracica is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America, with records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. The species is known by the common name "Freckle-necked Kuschelina." As a flea beetle, it likely shares the characteristic enlarged hind femora that enable jumping locomotion typical of the subfamily Alticinae, though specific morphological details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Kuschelina ulkei
Kuschelina ulkei is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Horn in 1889. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles, which enable their distinctive jumping locomotion. The species has been documented in North America, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature.
Kuschelina vians
Red-lined Flea Beetle
Kuschelina vians is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Commonly known as the Red-lined Flea Beetle, it occurs in North America with confirmed records from western Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the flea beetle group, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Kuschelina weismani
Kuschelina weismani is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Blake in 1954. As a member of the tribe Alticini, it possesses the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles that enable jumping locomotion. The species is known from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with herbaceous vegetation, though specific host plants remain undocumented.
Kytorhinini
Kytorhinini is a tribe of seed beetles within the subfamily Bruchinae (Chrysomelidae), established by Bridwell in 1932. The tribe is distinguished by particular combinations of morphological characters in the male genitalia and other structural features. Members of this tribe are associated with leguminous host plants. The tribe remains relatively poorly studied compared to other bruchine groups, with limited published information on species diversity and biology.
Labidomera
milkweed leaf beetle
Labidomera is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the tribe Chrysomelini. The genus includes several species, with L. clivicollis being the most studied and widely distributed. Members are strongly associated with milkweed plants (Asclepias) and related genera. The genus exhibits unusual larval locomotion and participates in Müllerian mimicry rings with other orange-and-black milkweed insects.
Labidomera clivicollis
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle, Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Labidomera clivicollis is a large leaf beetle specialized on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Adults and larvae feed on milkweed foliage, sequestering cardiac glycosides for chemical defense. The species exhibits aposematic orange and black coloration as part of a Müllerian mimicry complex with monarch butterflies and other milkweed feeders. Reproduction is photoperiodically controlled, with short day lengths inducing adult diapause. Larvae suffer high predation mortality, particularly from ground-dispersing predators.
Lamprosomatinae
Lamprosomatinae is a small subfamily of leaf beetles within Chrysomelidae, classified among the case-bearing Camptosomata. The subfamily contains 14 extant genera and 3 extinct genera arranged in four tribes: Lamprosomatini, Cachiporrini, Neochlamysini, and Sphaerocharini. Members are distinguished from other Camptosomata by their distinctive body shape.
Lebia bilineata
Lebia bilineata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, characterized by its distinctive coloration and pattern. It is one of numerous species in the diverse genus Lebia, which are commonly known as colorful foliage ground beetles. The species is found in Mexico and the United States, with records from the southwestern and western regions of the U.S.
Lema confusa
Lema confusa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Chevrolat in 1835. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the genus Lema, it belongs to a group of leaf beetles commonly associated with plants in the family Solanaceae.
Lema cyanella
Californian Thistle Leaf Beetle
Lema cyanella is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae investigated as a biological control agent for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). In Europe, it has been observed breeding primarily on C. arvense, though laboratory studies demonstrate broader feeding and reproductive capacity on Cirsium, Carduus, and Silybum genera. The species was introduced to New Zealand in 1981 and evaluated for release in North America. Females lay an average of 1564 eggs, with development from egg to adult taking approximately 17.6 days under controlled temperature conditions.
Lema daturaphila
Three-lined Potato Beetle
Lema daturaphila, the three-lined potato beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Native to Central and North America, it has spread to other regions including Africa and Oceania. Adults measure 7–8 mm and display bright orange-yellow coloration with three dark longitudinal stripes on the elytra. The species is a specialist herbivore of Solanaceae plants, particularly Datura species, though it occasionally feeds on agricultural crops such as tomato, potato, and eggplant. Larvae are slug-like with black heads and exhibit a distinctive defense behavior of covering themselves with excrement.
Lema trivittata
three-lined lema beetle, three-lined potato beetle
A leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, recognized by its bright orange thorax, yellow legs, and three black longitudinal stripes on yellow elytra. Adults and larvae feed on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), including potato, jimsonweed, and bittersweet nightshade. The species has evolved physiological tolerance to tropane alkaloids, toxic compounds produced by its host plants. Native to Central and North America, with introduced populations in Australia.
Lemini
shining leaf beetles
Lemini is a tribe of leaf beetles within the subfamily Criocerinae, characterized by their often metallic or shiny appearance. Members are placed in the family Chrysomelidae, a large group of herbivorous beetles commonly known as leaf beetles. The tribe was established by Gyllenhal in 1813 and contains multiple genera distributed across various regions.
Lemophagus
Lemophagus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Campopleginae. Species are larval parasitoids of chrysomelid beetles, with documented hosts including cereal leaf beetles, lily leaf beetles, and related leaf-feeding beetles. The genus was erected by Townes in 1965 and contains approximately nine described species distributed across the Palearctic, Oriental, and Nearctic regions. Some species have been introduced as biological control agents for agricultural pests.
Leptinotarsa
Potato Beetles
Leptinotarsa is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) containing approximately 20 described species, with the most notable being Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle. Several species in the genus produce leptinotarsin, a toxin structurally similar to diamphotoxin found in African leaf beetles of the genus Diamphidia. Some Leptinotarsa species serve as hosts for parasitoid ground beetles in the genus Lebia.
Leptinotarsa collinsi
Leptinotarsa collinsi is a leaf beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Wilcox in 1972. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus that includes several economically significant agricultural pests, most notably the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Unlike its congener L. decemlineata, L. collinsi has not been documented as a major crop pest.
Leptinotarsa defecta
Twoline Satansbos Leaf Beetle
Leptinotarsa defecta is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, closely related to the notorious Colorado potato beetle (L. decemlineata). Unlike its congener, L. defecta is not a major agricultural pest and has been observed feeding on Solanum species in Florida. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America, Middle America, and Africa, though detailed natural history information remains sparse.
Leptinotarsa haldemani
Haldeman's green potato beetle
Leptinotarsa haldemani, commonly known as Haldeman's green potato beetle, is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is named after 19th-century American entomologist Samuel Stehman Haldeman. The species is distinguished by its glossy metallic green elytra, black head, and black appendages. It feeds primarily on wild Solanaceae species and is occasionally found on cultivated potatoes.
Leptinotarsa lineolata
Burrobrush Leaf Beetle
Leptinotarsa lineolata is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, closely related to the Colorado Potato Beetle. Adults measure 7-8 millimeters and display distinctive coloration: metallic green head and thorax with ivory elytra marked by black streaks. The species is a specialist herbivore, feeding exclusively on Burrobrush (Hymenoclea monogyra). Populations become abundant following summer monsoon rains, typically in early to mid-July.
Leptinotarsa rubiginosa
reddish potato beetle
Leptinotarsa rubiginosa, the reddish potato beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is a congener of the well-known Colorado potato beetle (L. decemlineata) but is considerably less common and less studied. The species occurs in Central America and North America, with documented observations in the southwestern United States including Arizona. It has been collected from vegetation in canyon and desert grassland habitats.
Leptinotarsa texana
Texas potato beetle
Leptinotarsa texana, commonly known as the Texas potato beetle, is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for the invasive weed silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium). The species has been documented as a host for the parasitoid wasp Edovum puttleri, which has been studied for biological control of the related Colorado potato beetle. Its host range includes multiple Solanum species, with field studies showing feeding on silverleaf nightshade and eggplant but not on potato.
Lexiphanes
Lexiphanes is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae, containing approximately 17 described species. The genus is distributed across North and South America, with species recorded from eastern Brazil to northern North America. Members of this genus are associated with specific host plants, with documented associations including Cassandra calyculata and Waltheria indica.
Lexiphanes affinis
Lexiphanes affinis is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The genus Lexiphanes belongs to the tribe Cryptocephalini, a group known for larvae that construct and carry protective cases from their own fecal material and plant debris. This species was described by Haldeman in 1849 and is native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely feeds on foliage of various plants, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Lexiphanes seminulum
Lexiphanes seminulum is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was described by Suffrian in 1858. Very little published information exists regarding its biology, ecology, or distribution patterns. It belongs to a genus of small chrysomelids that are typically associated with herbaceous vegetation.
Lilioceris
lily leaf beetles, air potato leaf beetles
Lilioceris is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the subfamily Criocerinae, first described by Edmund Reitter in 1912. The genus contains over 100 species, with approximately 80 species occurring in Asia. Several species are notable agricultural and horticultural pests, particularly of plants in the lily family (Liliaceae). Lilioceris lilii (lily leaf beetle) is a serious pest of native and cultivated lilies in Europe and North America, while L. cheni has been successfully deployed as a classical biological control agent against the invasive air potato vine (Dioscorea bulbifera) in Florida. Species range from 4–10 mm in length with elongated, narrow bodies and distinct shoulders between the elytra and pronotum.
Longitarsus arenaceus
Longitarsus arenaceus is a species of flea beetle described by Blatchley in 1921. It belongs to the genus Longitarsus, a large group of small leaf beetles characterized by their enlarged hind femora that enable jumping. The species is known from North America. Very few observations exist in public databases, indicating it is rarely encountered or understudied.
Longitarsus erro
Longitarsus erro is a species of flea beetle (family Chrysomelidae) described by George Henry Horn in 1889. The species is known from Canada, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the large genus Longitarsus, it belongs to a group of small leaf beetles characterized by their enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Information regarding its specific biology, host plants, and ecology remains limited.
Longitarsus ferrugineus
Longitarsus ferrugineus is a small black flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae. It belongs to a large genus of leaf beetles characterized by their enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species has a broad distribution across much of Europe, with records from Great Britain through Central Europe to Italy and the Baltic states.
Longitarsus jacobaeae
Ragwort Flea Beetle, Tansy Ragwort Flea Beetle
Longitarsus jacobaeae is a flea beetle (Chrysomelidae) native to Europe, widely introduced as a biological control agent for tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), a toxic weed affecting livestock. Adults and larvae feed on ragwort foliage, with larvae mining roots and crown tissue. The species exhibits pronounced seasonal behavioral patterns, including summer aestivation and winter inactivity. It has established successfully in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Longitarsus luridus
Flea beetle
Longitarsus luridus is a flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) native to Europe, where it occurs throughout the continent except Portugal. The species has been introduced to North America and is established there. As a member of the Alticini tribe, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Adults feed on foliage of host plants.
Longitarsus rubiginosus
Longitarsus rubiginosus is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. First described by Foudras in 1859 as Teinodactyla rubiginosa, it belongs to the large genus Longitarsus, which contains hundreds of species primarily associated with host plants in the Asteraceae and Boraginaceae families.
Longitarsus turbatus
Longitarsus turbatus is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Horn in 1889. Records indicate presence in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec. As a member of the genus Longitarsus, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. Specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Longitarsus varicornis
Banded Heliotrope Longitarsus
Longitarsus varicornis is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Suffrian in 1868. It belongs to the tribe Alticini, a group characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As with other members of the genus Longitarsus, it is likely associated with herbaceous vegetation, though specific host plant records for this species remain limited.
Luperaltica
Luperaltica is a genus of flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) established by Crotch in 1873. The genus contains at least four described species in North America, with additional species reported from Mexico. Like other flea beetles, members possess enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The genus is part of the diverse leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae.
Luperaltica semiflava
Luperaltica semiflava is a species of flea beetle (Chrysomelidae) described by Fall in 1907. It is native to North America and belongs to the genus Luperaltica, a group of small leaf beetles characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is documented through limited observation records.