Donaciinae
Guides
Donacia
Donacia is a large genus of aquatic leaf beetles in the subfamily Donaciinae. Adults are active, capable of sustained flight, and possess adaptations for both aerial and submerged existence. The genus is distinguished by a truncate elytral apex and a pubescent area above the procoxa. Larvae develop on submerged portions of aquatic plants, while adults inhabit surface parts of the same host vegetation. The genus contains approximately 113 described species arranged into 15 proposed subgenera, with major radiations in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions.
Donacia caerulea
Donacia caerulea is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Canadian provinces including Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with freshwater aquatic habitats where its larvae develop on submerged vegetation.
Donacia cincticornis
Girdle-horned Pond Lily Leaf Beetle
Donacia cincticornis is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, characterized by its association with aquatic vegetation. The species is known from the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Three subspecies have been described: D. c. cincticornis, D. c. tenuis, and D. c. tryphera. Like other members of the genus Donacia, it is closely tied to freshwater habitats.
Donacia confluenta
Confluent reed beetle
Donacia confluenta is a North American leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the confluent reed beetle. The species is distributed across much of Canada and the northern United States, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the subfamily Donaciinae, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats and likely feeds on aquatic vegetation.
Donacia edentata
Toothless pond lily leaf beetle
Donacia edentata is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, described by Schaeffer in 1919. The common name "toothless pond lily leaf beetle" refers to its edentate (toothless) condition and association with aquatic plants in the Nymphaeaceae family. Like other members of genus Donacia, it is adapted to life in freshwater habitats with submerged vegetation.
Donacia liebecki
Donacia liebecki is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1919. The species is known from North America, with records from Saskatchewan, Canada. As a member of the subfamily Donaciinae, it is adapted to aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Donacia magnifica
magnificent aquatic leaf beetle, Magnificent pondweed beetle
Donacia magnifica is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by LeConte in 1851. It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. The species is closely associated with pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.), on whose leaves adults feed. Like other members of the genus Donacia, it is adapted to an aquatic lifestyle.
Donacia palmata
Palm-footed pond lily leaf beetle
Donacia palmata is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario) and the broader North American continent. As a member of the subfamily Donaciinae, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species is commonly known as the Palm-footed pond lily leaf beetle.
Donacia piscatrix
Donacia cf. piscatrix is a reed beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, recorded from Northern Ireland during 2023 coastal habitat surveys. The genus Donacia comprises aquatic leaf beetles associated with emergent vegetation in freshwater and brackish habitats. The specific epithet 'piscatrix' refers to the species' association with water, from Latin 'piscator' meaning fisher. The 'cf.' designation indicates probable but unconfirmed identification, reflecting the taxonomic challenges within this genus.
Donacia pubescens
Pubescent sedge beetle
Donacia pubescens is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first described by LeConte in 1868. It is found across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) and the United States. Like other members of the genus Donacia, it is associated with aquatic habitats and is likely a specialist on aquatic plants.
Donacia pubicollis
Donacia pubicollis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. It is currently treated as a synonym of Donaciella pubicollis. The species has been recorded in North America, specifically in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Records are sparse, with only four observations documented on iNaturalist. Like other members of the Donaciinae, it is likely associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Donacia subtilis
Donacia subtilis is a leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, commonly known as the aquatic leaf beetles. Species in this genus are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, typically feeding on submerged or emergent aquatic vegetation. Adults are often found on the leaves of host plants, while larvae develop in the roots and stems of aquatic plants. The species has been recorded across much of northern North America.
Donacia tuberculata
Tuberculate reed beetle
Donacia tuberculata is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae. It occurs in North America and is associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Like other members of its genus, it is linked to wetland vegetation and has aquatic larvae that develop on submerged plant roots.
Neohaemonia nigricornis
Neohaemonia nigricornis is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. The species inhabits freshwater environments in North America, with a distribution spanning the northern United States and southern Canada. As a member of the tribe Haemoniini, it shares adaptations for aquatic life with related genera, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Plateumarini
Plateumarini is a tribe of leaf beetles within the subfamily Donaciinae, established by Böving in 1922. Members of this tribe are aquatic or semi-aquatic beetles associated with freshwater habitats. The tribe is distinguished from the related tribe Donaciini by morphological features of the larval stage, particularly in the structure of the respiratory siphon. Plateumarini contains the genus Plateumaris, which is the primary genus in this group.
Plateumaris
spade reed beetles
Plateumaris is a genus of aquatic leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae, distributed across the Holarctic region. The genus comprises approximately 27 species globally, with 17 described in North America and 10 in the Palaearctic. Adults are found along margins of water bodies on emergent aquatic plants, while larvae develop submerged on plant roots. Species are recognized by diagnostic morphological features including the lack of pubescence above the procoxa and rounded, declivous elytral apices with a sinuate sutural area. Females possess a strongly sclerotized, shovel-like ovipositor that often protrudes from the abdomen, giving rise to the common name "spade reed beetles".
Plateumaris diversa
Plateumaris diversa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. The species was described by C. Schaeffer in 1925. It is one of numerous Plateumaris species associated with wetland habitats, particularly those supporting emergent vegetation. Records indicate presence in central and eastern Canada, with observations from Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec.
Plateumaris dubia
long-horned leaf beetle, Dubious spade beetle
Plateumaris dubia is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America, with records from western Canada and Alaska. The species is commonly known as the long-horned leaf beetle or the dubious spade beetle. Like other members of the genus Plateumaris, it is associated with wetland habitats.
Plateumaris flavipes
Flavous-footed reed beetle
Plateumaris flavipes is a leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, commonly known as reed beetles. Members of this subfamily are semi-aquatic, typically associated with emergent vegetation in freshwater habitats. The species is recorded from western and northern North America, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Labrador in Canada. Available sources provide limited specific ecological detail for this species.
Plateumaris germari
Germar's reed beetle
Plateumaris germari is an aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Donaciinae. It occurs in western North America, with records extending from western Canada through the western United States. The species is associated with wetland and riparian habitats where emergent vegetation provides food and substrate for larval development. Like other members of the genus, it is believed to complete its life cycle in close association with aquatic or semi-aquatic plants.
Plateumaris nitida
Lustrous reed beetle
Plateumaris nitida is an aquatic leaf beetle in the subfamily Donaciinae, commonly known as the Lustrous reed beetle. It is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador) and the United States. As a member of the Donaciinae, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, particularly wetlands with emergent vegetation.
Plateumaris pusilla
Little reed beetle
Plateumaris pusilla is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is known from North America, with records from Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Labrador. As a member of the subfamily Donaciinae, it is associated with wetland habitats. The species is commonly referred to as the Little reed beetle.