Urushiol-tolerance
Guides
Aulacothorax melina
poison ivy leaf beetle
Aulacothorax melina is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the poison ivy leaf beetle. The species was formerly placed in the genus Orthaltica but has been reclassified to Aulacothorax. It is native to North America and is associated with poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) as a host plant. The beetle is one of relatively few insects that can feed on poison ivy, which contains urushiol, a compound that causes allergic reactions in most humans and deters many herbivores.