Herbivores
Guides
Alticini
Flea Beetles
Alticini is a hyperdiverse tribe of leaf beetles commonly known as flea beetles, comprising approximately 9,900 species worldwide. Members are characterized by an exceptional jumping ability powered by a specialized elastic energy storage mechanism in the hind legs. Most species feed on leaf surfaces of host plants and occur across diverse habitats from tropical rainforests to high-altitude meadows and deserts. The tribe has been historically treated as a subfamily but is now classified within Galerucinae.
Amphelasma
Amphelasma is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, containing 11 described species. These beetles are distributed from Venezuela to Mexico, with one species extending into southern Arizona. The genus was established by Barber in 1947 and belongs to the tribe Luperini within the subfamily Galerucinae.
Cecidomyiinae
gall midges, gall gnats
Cecidomyiinae is the largest subfamily in Cecidomyiidae, comprising over 600 genera and more than 5,000 described species. The subfamily exhibits remarkable ecological diversity: approximately 75% of species are herbivorous, many inducing galls on plants, while others are fungivores, predators, or parasitoids. Gall-inducing species attack a wide diversity of host plants worldwide and represent the most ecologically diverse gall-inducing group of organisms. Members can be distinguished from other Cecidomyiidae by characters of the male genitalia, antennal segment number, and larval abdominal bristles.
Charidotella
tortoise beetles
Charidotella is a genus of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae) containing at least 100 described species. Members of this genus are known for their distinctive domed, tortoise-like body shape and often striking metallic coloration. The genus includes Charidotella bicolor, commonly called the golden tortoise beetle, which exhibits remarkable color-changing abilities. Species in this genus are primarily associated with plants in the family Convolvulaceae.
Chlorochlamys
raspberry looper moth
Chlorochlamys is a genus of emerald moths in the family Geometridae, subfamily Geometrinae. The genus contains four described species distributed across eastern and central North America. The most commonly encountered species, Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria, is known as the raspberry looper and has been documented feeding on prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) and Eriogonum alatum.
Coleophorinae
case-bearer moths, case-bearing moths
Coleophorinae is a subfamily of small moths within the family Coleophoridae, commonly known as case-bearer moths. The larvae construct distinctive portable cases from silk and plant material, which they carry throughout their development. The subfamily contains the majority of species in Coleophoridae, with adults generally characterized by narrow wings and relatively long antennae. Many species are specialists on particular host plants, making them important subjects for ecological and taxonomic study.
Coptocycla
Coptocycla is a genus of tortoise beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cassidinae. The genus contains approximately 58 described species. Members of this genus are leaf beetles characterized by their distinctive body form, with the elytra and pronotum expanded to cover the body margins. These beetles are primarily found in the Americas.
Criocerinae
Shining Leaf Beetles
Criocerinae is a subfamily of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) comprising approximately 1,400 described species distributed across temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones worldwide. Members are commonly known as shining leaf beetles due to their often lustrous appearance. The subfamily includes economically significant species, with some genera such as Lilioceris and Crioceris containing notable agricultural pests and biological control agents. Several species exhibit specialized host plant associations, particularly with monocots including orchids, lilies, and asparagus.
Criocerini
shining leaf beetles
Criocerini is a tribe of leaf beetles in the subfamily Criocerinae, family Chrysomelidae. Members are commonly known as shining leaf beetles. The tribe includes at least two genera: Crioceris and Lilioceris. These beetles are herbivorous and associated with monocot plants, particularly members of Liliaceae and related families.
Curculionoidea
weevils, snout beetles, bark beetles
Curculionoidea is a superfamily of beetles containing over 60,000 described species, making it one of the most diverse groups of organisms on Earth. Members are commonly known as weevils, snout beetles, or bark beetles. The superfamily includes several families, with Curculionidae (true weevils) being the largest. Most species are small, herbivorous beetles, though feeding habits vary across families. The group is characterized by distinctive morphological features, particularly modifications to the head and mouthparts.
Depressariidae
Flat-bodied moths
Depressariidae is a family of moths comprising approximately 2,300 species worldwide. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Gelechiidae, it is now recognized as a distinct family within the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family includes ten subfamilies: Acriinae, Aeolanthinae, Cryptolechiinae, Depressariinae, Ethmiinae, Hypercalliinae, Hypertrophinae, Oditinae, Peleopodinae, and Stenomatinae. Several genera, including Carcina, Gonionota, Machimia, Himmacia, and Psilocorsis, remain unplaced within the subfamily structure. Members of this family exhibit diverse larval feeding habits, with many species specialized on particular plant families.
Donaciinae
Aquatic Leaf Beetles, Reed Beetles
Donaciinae is a subfamily of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) comprising approximately 100 species across six genera, including Donacia, Macroplea, and Plateumaris. Members are strongly associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, with larvae developing underwater attached to plant roots. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive morphological adaptations and an obligate symbiosis with bacteria that produce the silk-like material used to construct waterproof pupal cocoons. Donaciinae are primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere with extensions into Africa, Madagascar, and Australasia.
Geometridae
geometer moths, geometrid moths, inchworms, spanworms, loopers, cankerworms, measuring worms
Geometridae is one of the largest families of moths, with approximately 23,000 described species worldwide. The family name derives from Greek "geo" (earth) and "metron" (measure), referring to the distinctive looping locomotion of their larvae, commonly called inchworms or loopers. These caterpillars possess only two or three pairs of prolegs at the posterior end, compared to five or more pairs in most other Lepidoptera, forcing them to arch their bodies in a characteristic "measuring" gait. Adults are typically nocturnal with slender bodies and broad wings, often exhibiting cryptic coloration that provides camouflage against bark and vegetation.
Hesperiidae
Skippers
Hesperiidae, commonly known as skippers, is a large family of diurnal butterflies in the order Lepidoptera. The family contains over 3,500 recognized species distributed worldwide, with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Skippers are named for their rapid, darting flight patterns. A distinctive morphological feature is the antenna tip, which is modified into a narrow hook-like projection rather than the rounded club found in most other butterfly families. The family was formerly placed in its own superfamily Hesperioidea but is now classified within Papilionoidea based on recent molecular studies.
Machilidae
Jumping Bristletails
Machilidae is a family of wingless insects in the order Archaeognatha, commonly known as jumping bristletails. Adults measure 7–20 mm in body length, with elongated cylindrical bodies covered in overlapping scales and three long terminal filaments. They possess large contiguous compound eyes, a humped thorax, and enlarged hind legs that enable rapid jumping when disturbed. The family contains approximately 250–450 described species with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, primarily associated with moist, sheltered microhabitats including rocky shorelines, leaf litter, and rock crevices.
Narraga
Narraga is a genus of geometrid moths established by Walker in 1861. The genus includes at least seven described species, with Narraga fimetaria (the green broomweed looper) being the most thoroughly studied due to its potential as a biological control agent for weedy broomweed in rangelands. Species in this genus are associated with open habitats and have narrow host plant associations.
Nematinae
nematine sawflies
Nematinae is a large subfamily of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) comprising over 1,250 described species across approximately 40 genera. The subfamily exhibits a reversed latitudinal diversity gradient, with species richness peaking in boreal forest zones rather than tropical regions, likely associated with the abundance of willow (Salix) hosts. Nematinae display diverse feeding strategies including external leaf feeding, leaf mining, and gall induction, with larvae utilizing over 20 plant families.
Paragrilus
Paragrilus is a genus of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) in the subfamily Agrilinae, native to the Americas. The genus contains approximately 70 described species distributed across North, Central, and South America, with four species occurring in the United States. Species are generally small, dark-colored beetles with reduced metallic luster compared to many other buprestids. They are distinguished from the related and more diverse genus Agrilus by their antennae, which can be received into grooves along the sides of the pronotum.
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.
Plocamus
flower weevils
Plocamus is a genus of flower weevils in the beetle family Curculionidae, established by LeConte in 1876. The genus contains nine described species, distributed primarily in North America. Members are associated with flowering plants, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented. The genus includes the porcupine weevil (Plocamus echidna), one of the more frequently referenced species.
Rhynchitini
leaf-rolling weevils
Rhynchitini is a tribe of small to medium-sized weevils within the family Attelabidae, commonly known as leaf-rolling weevils. These beetles are characterized by their association with leaf manipulation behaviors, particularly the cutting and rolling of leaves to create protective shelters for their eggs and larvae. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents, with most species associated with broadleaf trees and shrubs.
Tenthredinidae
Common Sawflies
Tenthredinidae is the largest family of sawflies, comprising over 7,500 species in 430 genera worldwide. Adults lack the constricted "wasp waist" typical of many Hymenoptera, instead showing broad connection between thorax and abdomen. Larvae are primarily external feeders on foliage of trees and shrubs, with some species exhibiting leaf-mining, stem-boring, or gall-forming habits. The family is divided into seven subfamilies, with Tenthredininae and Allantinae forming sister groups.
Tricholochmaea
Tricholochmaea is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, comprising 21 described species and two subspecies. Members are known as skeletonizing leaf beetles and flea beetles, feeding on plant foliage in a characteristic pattern that leaves leaf veins intact. The genus includes several species associated with specific host plants, such as the cherry leaf beetle (T. cavicollis), Pacific willow leaf beetle (T. decora), and blueberry leaf beetle (T. vaccinii). Taxonomic treatment varies, with some authors treating Tricholochmaea as a synonym of Pyrrhalta.
Ulidiidae
Picture-winged Flies
Ulidiidae, formerly known as Otitidae, is a large and diverse cosmopolitan family of true flies (Diptera) commonly called picture-winged flies. Most species are herbivorous or detritivorous, with larvae developing in decaying plant matter, dung, or living plant tissues. The family is characterized by distinctive wing patterns of spots, bands, or lines that serve in species recognition and courtship displays. Approximately 40 genera and 133 species occur in North America north of Mexico, with global diversity exceeding 700 species. A few species, notably Tetanops myopaeformis and Euxesta stigmatias, are recognized agricultural pests.