Reed-beetles
Guides
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".