Cryptocephalinae
Guides
Anomoea
Anomoea is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, family Chrysomelidae. The genus name is frequently confused with the tephritid fly genus Anomoia due to historical nomenclatural confusion. The genus includes species such as Anomoea flavokansiensis, which has been studied as a herbivore of leguminous plants in agricultural systems.
Anomoea nitidicollis nitidicollis
Anomoea nitidicollis nitidicollis is a subspecies of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, tribe Clytrini. Members of this genus are associated with host plants in the family Asteraceae. The nominate subspecies occurs in North and Middle America. As with other clytrine beetles, adults are likely flower visitors and larvae develop in association with plant material.
Anomoea rufifrons occidentimutabilis
A subspecies of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Described by Moldenke in 1970 from western North American populations of Anomoea rufifrons. The subspecific epithet "occidentimutabilis" suggests variability in western populations. Like other members of the genus, adults are associated with woody vegetation and are case-bearers in the larval stage.
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.
Coleothorpa axillaris quadratominor
Coleothorpa axillaris quadratominor is a subspecies of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It was described by Moldenke in 1970. The species is part of the genus Coleothorpa, which belongs to the tribe Clytrini within the subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Members of this genus construct protective cases from fecal material, a characteristic behavior of the Clytrini. The subspecific epithet 'quadratominor' suggests a diminutive or reduced quadrate (square) feature relative to the nominate subspecies.
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.
Coleothorpa vittigera
case-bearing leaf beetle
Coleothorpa vittigera is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species was first described by J.L. LeConte in 1861. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form C. v. vittigera and C. v. arizonensis described by Horn in 1892. The species is native to North America.
Coscinoptera
Coscinoptera is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The genus was established by Lacordaire in 1848. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, tribe Clytrini, and are characterized by their case-bearing larval habit where larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and plant debris. The genus includes species such as C. aeneipennis, C. mucida, and C. villosa.
Coscinoptera aeneipennis
Bronze-winged Cryptocephaline
Coscinoptera aeneipennis is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. The specific epithet 'aeneipennis' refers to the bronze-colored wings. As a member of the Cryptocephalinae, larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and shed skins.
Cryptocephalina
case-bearer leaf beetles
Cryptocephalina is a subtribe of leaf beetles within the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, commonly known as case-bearer leaf beetles. These beetles are characterized by their distinctive life history: adults possess the ability to retract their head, legs, and antennae into grooves on the body, while larvae construct protective cases from fecal material. The subtribe includes species with highly specialized ecological associations, including myrmecophilous (ant-associated) forms that live within ant nests.
Cryptocephalus cerinus
Cryptocephalus cerinus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by B. White in 1937 and includes two recognized subspecies: C. c. cerinus and C. c. nevadensis. As a member of the genus Cryptocephalus, adults and larvae construct and carry protective cases from their own fecal material and shed skins, a distinctive trait of the group.
Cryptocephalus confluentus
Confluent Cryptocephalus
Cryptocephalus confluentus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The species occurs in North America and is one of approximately 1,200 species in the genus Cryptocephalus. Two subspecies are recognized: C. c. confluentus and C. c. melanoscelus. Like other members of the genus, adults possess the characteristic hardened case formed by the enlarged elytra and pronotum that protects the head and appendages when disturbed.
Cryptocephalus notatus fulvipennis
Cryptocephalus quercus
Cryptocephalus quercus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1906. The specific epithet 'quercus' refers to oak, suggesting an association with Quercus species. It is found in North America, though detailed natural history information remains limited.
Cryptocephalus umbonatus
Cryptocephalus umbonatus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Schaeffer in 1906. It is found in North America. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group commonly known as case-bearing leaf beetles due to the habit of larvae constructing protective cases from fecal material and exuviae.
Diachus
case-bearing leaf beetles
Diachus is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. The genus contains approximately 10 described species, with a distribution centered in the Americas. Members of this genus are characterized by their case-bearing habit, where larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and exuviae. The genus was established by J.L. LeConte in 1880.
Diachus auratus
bronze leaf beetle
Diachus auratus, commonly known as the bronze leaf beetle, is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species exhibits a remarkably broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents including Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the Cryptocephalinae subfamily, it shares the characteristic protective case-bearing behavior of its relatives. The species was originally described by Fabricius in 1801 under the basionym Cryptocephalus auratus.
Diachus subopacus
Diachus subopacus is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Schaeffer in 1906. It belongs to the tribe Clytrini, a group known for their association with grasses and sedges. The species is found in North America and is one of several species in the genus Diachus, which are generally characterized by their compact, somewhat rounded body form and dull coloration.
Diplacaspis
Diplacaspis is a genus of warty leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, established by Jacobson in 1924. The genus contains at least three described species: Diplacaspis chlamysoides, Diplacaspis pectoralis, and Diplacaspis prosternalis. These beetles belong to the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, commonly known as warty leaf beetles or case-bearing leaf beetles. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited information available on its biology and ecology.
Exema conspersa
warty leaf beetle
Exema conspersa is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The genus Exema belongs to the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, commonly known as warty leaf beetles or case-bearing leaf beetles, recognized for their distinctive sculptured body surfaces. The species is distributed across Central America and North America.
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.
Griburius
case-bearing leaf beetles
Griburius is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The genus contains approximately six described species in the United States, with additional species distributed throughout the Neotropical Region. A 2022 taxonomic revision revised nine species in the G. posticatus species group, transferred one species from Metallactus, proposed multiple synonymies, and described two new Brazilian species. Members of this genus are characterized by their case-bearing habit, where larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and shed skins.
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.
Griburius rileyi
Bold-spotted Griburius
Griburius rileyi is a recently described species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The species was described by Sassi in 2023 and is distinguished by bold spotted patterns on its elytra. Like other members of the genus Griburius, adults are associated with oak woodlands and are attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The specific epithet honors Edward Riley, a prominent coleopterist and indefatigable collector of beetles, particularly known for his contributions to cerambycid and chrysomelid taxonomy.
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 mexicanus
Mexican case-bearing leaf beetle
Lexiphanes mexicanus is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The species belongs to the tribe Clytrini, whose larvae construct portable cases from fecal material and plant debris. It occurs in both Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Lexiphanes, it exhibits the characteristic cryptocephaline morphology with a compact body form adapted for leaf-feeding.
Megalostomis
Megalostomis is a genus of case-bearing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The genus contains 42 valid species following a 2013 taxonomic revision, with most species distributed in the Americas. Members of this genus are notable for their ant associations and case-bearing larval biology. The genus is divided into seven subgenera, including the arid-adapted subgenus Scaphigenia found in South America.
Megalostomis dimidiata
Megalostomis dimidiata is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. The species was described by Lacordaire in 1848 and has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with seven former subspecies or related species now synonymized under this name. It occurs in Central and North America. As a member of the Clytrini tribe, it likely exhibits the case-bearing larval behavior characteristic of this group, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Megalostomis pyropyga
Megalostomis pyropyga is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was described by Lacordaire in 1848. As a member of the case-bearing leaf beetles, it likely constructs protective cases from its own fecal material, a characteristic trait of its subfamily Cryptocephalinae.
Megalostomis subfasciata
Megalostomis subfasciata is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It was originally described by LeConte in 1868. A 2013 taxonomic revision designated a lectotype for this species and synonymized two previously recognized subspecific forms: M. subfasciata majorubrofasciata and M. subfasciata murina. The species is recorded from North America and Central 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.
Pachybrachis alticola
Pachybrachis alticola is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle first described by Fall in 1915. It belongs to the genus Pachybrachis, a diverse group of small, rounded leaf beetles characterized by their compact bodies and often patterned elytra. The species name "alticola" suggests an association with higher elevations, though specific habitat preferences remain poorly documented. Like other members of its genus, it likely feeds on various herbaceous plants and shrubs.
Pachybrachis brevicollis
Pachybrachis brevicollis is a case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1880. It belongs to the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, a group known for larvae that construct protective cases from their own excrement and shed skins. The species is distributed across North America, with records from the southwestern United States including Arizona.
Pachybrachis calidus
case-bearing leaf beetle
Pachybrachis calidus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae) described by Fall in 1915. It occurs in Central and North America, where it inhabits mesquite-acacia scrub and oak-juniper woodland habitats. The species has been documented at light traps in southeastern Arizona, with adults active in late July. Like other members of the genus, it likely carries its eggs in a protective case constructed from fecal material.
Pachybrachis deceptor
Pachybrachis deceptor is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is part of the diverse genus Pachybrachis, which contains numerous small, often colorful species found primarily in North America. The species name "deceptor" suggests a potentially misleading or cryptic appearance. Like other members of its genus, it likely feeds on foliage of various plants and has a life cycle involving larvae that carry protective cases.
Pachybrachis diversus
Screwbean Pachy
Pachybrachis diversus is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae. It belongs to a large genus of North American cryptocephaline beetles commonly known as 'scripture beetles' for their often ornate elytral patterns. The species was described by Fall in 1915 and has been collected in the southwestern United States, particularly in Arizona. Based on field observations, it appears to be attracted to ultraviolet and mercury-vapor lights in oak-juniper woodland habitats.
Pachybrachis femoratus
case-bearing leaf beetle
Pachybrachis femoratus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America. The genus Pachybrachis is characterized by its case-bearing habit, where larvae construct protective cases from fecal material and exuviae. This species is one of many in a large genus of small leaf beetles.
Pachybrachis fortis
Pachybrachis fortis is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Fall in 1915. It belongs to a genus characterized by the habit of carrying larval cases, a trait reflected in the common name "case-bearing leaf beetles." The species is documented from North America, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.