Coleoptera1349 species

Family Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae)

Chrysomelidae is a family in the order Coleoptera. Browse 1,349 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Chrysomelidae (1,349)

Dysphenges oblivius

Identification: PARATYPE Type Locality: TEXAS: McLennan Co.: 3 mi N Moody, IV-29-2001, E. G. Riley-976, on Desmanthus illinoensis .

Dysphenges penrosei

Identification: PARATYPE Type Locality: ARIZONA: Cochise Co.: Sunnyside Cyn., VII-9-86, A. J. Gilbert.

Dysphenges rileyi

Identification: PARATYPE: only one U.S. spmn (and two from Mexico) in the University of Arizona Insect Collection (Gene Hall, pers. comm. to MAQ, 2016)

Dysphenges secretus

Identification: PARATYPE Type Locality: Texas: Uvalde Co., 9 mi N Sabinal, IV-9-1995, E. G. Riley

Epitrix atropae

The dark elytra of this small (3mm) species usually have pairs of paler bronze patches. As with other 'flea' beetles it has swollen rear femora. The small size of this beetles brings a photographic challenge but knowing the food plant it is found on

Epitrix brevis

Identification: Body dark testaceous to piceous; antebasal impression of pronotum absent to weak; pronotal punctures separated by their diameter, small; one row of setae between elytral striae; 11 striae on elytra. Det. A. M. Deczynski, 2012 Type ser

Southern Tobacco Flea Beetle

Epitrix fasciata

Epitrix fasciata, the banded epitrix, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, and South America.

Epitrix lobata

Identification: Body completely piceous the only species north of Mexico with a series of irregular striations present on the vertex of the head. Type Locality: South Carolina

Epitrix ovalis 0

Epitrix ovalis

Identification: Body pale testaceous to dark rufous; body highly elongate ovoid; pronotum highly convex and about same width as elytra; elytra without darker transverse band

Epitrix rileyi 0

Epitrix rileyi

Identification: Body dark rufous to testaceous, pronotum often with patches of lighter rufous Pronotal punctures separated by their diameter or more; pronotum often tinged with dark red collected in three large series from expeditions on the Emory Pe

Epitrix robusta 0

Epitrix robusta

Identification: Body completely piceous Type Locality: Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Mexico

Western Potato Flea Beetle

Epitrix subcrinita

Identification: Body completely piceous with bronze luster; antebasal impression of pronotum highly reduced; pronotal punctures separated by twice their diameter, small; one row of setae between elytral striae; 11 striae on elytra. Det. A. Deczynski,

Erepsocassis rubella

Identification: color: Yellow or red-brown uncommon

Erynephala texana

Erynephala was revised recently (Groll, et al. 2021) . Our specimens from the Texas coast are now E. texana (Schaeffer). This name was restored as valid species, removed from synonymy with maritima. Erynephala maritima does not officially occur in Te

Eulepton burkei

Type Locality: TEXAS: Pecos Co., 28 mi. S Ft. Stockton, hwy. 385 rest stop, IV-19-1997, E. Riley-469, on Quercus mohriana

Euphrytus intermedius

Identification: paired rear sternal tufts diagnostic (E.G. Riley, pers. comm., 2013 to MAQ)

Eusattodera pini 0

Eusattodera pini

Type Locality: Carr's Peak, Huachuca Mts., Arizona (9000 feet, on pine).

Exema byersi

Identification: Exema byersi can easily be distinguished by the yellow coloring on the face, which always includes the frons in the emargination of the eye, and many oval to elliptical punctures on the pronotum, especially on the anterior half. Type

Exema canadensis

Identification: Emargination of eyes black, not yellow. "Shiny black with yellowish markings; male with antennal scape and longitudinal bar next to each eye transversely connected to central spot that merges with triangular frontal spot, yellow; fron

Exema dispar

Identification: large areas of yellow on the head and anterior pronotum. Det. E. G. Riley, 2010

Exema elliptica

Exema elliptica is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Galeruca tanaceti

Size 6 to 10 mm. A shiny black beetle with dimpled elytra. Elytra wider at hind end, especially in the female, where abdomen may protrude beyond the elytra. Roadside verges and other grassy places, often in quite dry conditions. Widespread and fairly

Brown Willow Beetle

Galerucella lineola

4-5.4 mm. Tawny brown with black markings on the head. The elytra are coarsely punctuated and the pronotal disc is finely pubescent with a faint dark spot. The antennal segments are pale brown but usually with darker on the dorsal surface. The elytra

Water-lily Leaf Beetle

Galerucella nymphaeae

Size: 4 to 8 mm. Basic colour varies from yellowish brown to brick-red and the elytra usually have a paler margin. Galerucella nymphaeae is almost identical to G. sagittariae and they cannot easily be distinguished, though the food plant helps with s

Galerucella sagittariae

Galerucella sagittariae is orange-brown with a brighter orange border at the base of the elytra and a black scutellum. The pronotal disc is glabrous and shining (only G. sagittariae and G. nymphaeae share this feature). G. nymphaeae is almost identic

Strawberry Leaf Beetle

Galerucella tenella

3-4mm. Finely pubescent. Tawny with top of the head and scutellum (except for tip) dark. Front and rear edges of pronotum bare and shiny. No clear 'shoulder' spots. Antennae pale brown but darkening towards the apices. Apical sternite is bowl-shaped.

Gastrophysa formosa

Gastrophysa formosa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Gastrophysa polygoni

This is a small and colourful leaf beetle, no more than 5mm in length, with metallic green wing cases and head, whilst the thorax is orange. Associated with plants of the Polygonum genus, including bistorts, knotweeds, and knotgrass. Widespread and q

Green Dock Beetle

Gastrophysa viridula

Length 4 to 6 mm. A small green-golden beetle the elytra often seem to have a sheen. Usually found on Dock plants, it can be seen anywhere that Dock is present, such as roadside verges and field margins. It is often seen near to water. The gravid fem

Redbud Bruchid

Gibbobruchus mimus

Identification: Male pygidium almost totally pubescent, female pygidium with cordate, glabrous swelling Dets. M. A. Quinn

Glenidion flexicaulis

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley 2009 Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas (Schaeffer 1905)

Glyptina atriventris

Identification: Elytral striae of very fine or obsolete punctures, sides and apex smooth. Elytral striae of extremely fine punctures; body beneath always pale - cerina Elytral striae of coarse, obsolete punctures near the base and scutellum only; bod

Glyptina brunnea

13 spmns coll'ed Apr-July in c. TX arboreal surveys on oaks and cedar elm ( 4 )

Glyptina nivalis

Type Locality: Near Hot Springs Las Vegas, N.M., 7000 ft., Aug 1882, F. H. Snow

Glyptina spuria

Glyptina spuria is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Glyptina texana

locally common south of the Houston TX area on Euphorbia bicolor per E.G. Riley

Glyptoscelis albicans

Identification: The reddish-brown color and coarse white hairs distinguish this from other eastern species.

Glyptoscelis prosopis

Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Texas (Schaeffer 1905)

Hairy Leaf Beetle

Glyptoscelis pubescens

Identification: The large size, dark color, scaly dorsal surface, and the expanded lateral lobes of the prothorax will distinguish this species. (E.G. Riley)

Graphops barberi

Identification: Type - USNM, Smithsonian Type Locality: Flagstaff, Coconino Co., Arizona, coll'ed by Wickham in 1933

Monahans Graphops

Graphops comosa

Identification: "It has the heaviest pubescence of any of the genus, the elytral punctation being entirely concealed by the coarse white hairs in unrubbed specimens so that the beetles present a grayish appearance not unlike Glyptoscelis . The bulgin

Graphops exilis

Identification: Type - USNM, Smithsonian Type Locality: Victoria, Victoria Co., Texas, coll'ed by J. D. Mitchell, 29 Aug 1913

Graphops floridana

Type: male and 6 paratypes U.S.N.M. collected at Tavares, Florida, July 18 by Hubbard and Schwarz.

Graphops tenuis

Identification: Type - USNM, Smithsonian Type Locality: Alpine; 4400-6000 ft., Texas, coll'ed by Wickham, 28 Jun 1930

Gratiana boliviana

Identification: Larva cream with small green spot. Carries fecal shield. Young adults light green with a continuous yellow mark along the rim. Adults turn yellow. Used as weed biocontrol agent against Solanum viarum (soda apple), an invasive plant fr

Eggplant Tortoise Beetle

Gratiana pallidula

Identification: Adult: in most live individuals, pronotum light green, elytra light golden brown with explanate, transparent margins; color of dead specimens mostly medium brown with lighter brownish-yellow margins; body oblong; elytral margins almos

Griburius equestris

Identification: Our basis for assigning Olivier's name is the dorsal color pattern and the color of the abdomen. His illustration depicts a yellow Griburius beetle with two round, black maculae on each elytron, the anterior-most being isolated and we

Griburius larvatus

Identification: The specimens Riley et al. (2001) assigned to G. larvatus (over 100 examined) have the elytral pattern variably developed, ranging from nearly absent to heavily marked. The anterior discal spot of the elytra is basal, nearly touching

Griburius lecontii

Identification: Dets. M. A. Quinn, 2015 Type Locality: Texas

Griburius montezuma

Identification: dets. E.G. Riley: There exists a color form of this species where the ivory-white elytral markings are absent or nearly so, being reduced to a very narrow strip along the lower anterior portion of the elytral margin. From above, the e

Griburius scutellaris

Identification: Lateral margins and occasionally medial and paired basal spots of prothorax yellowish orange. Scutellum and medial and apical elytral fascia yellow-orange. ( 3 ) variable:

Clavate Tortoise Beetle

Helocassis clavata

Identification: adult: dorsum with large dark patch shaped like a teddy bear, with "legs" of the "bear" reaching elytral margins and the "head" extending onto the pronotum

Hemiphrynus elongatus 0

Hemiphrynus elongatus

Identification: both sexes with stout antennomeres (fourth antennomere approximately 2.4x longer than wide) 18 spmns coll'ed 3 miles s. of Alto, New Mexico

Palmetto Tortoise Beetle

Hemisphaerota cyanea

Larvae of this species create strands of fecal matter enclosing them in a nestlike thatch that protects them from predators. Thatch is retained when the larvae pupate, until the adult has emerged and its shell has hardened. Thomas Eisner has a very

Heptispa brevicornis

Identification: This is an unusual and noteworthy beetle possessing hispine characters not seen in other species from the United States and a combination of characters probably not found in any other hispine. The form of the antennae is its most uniq

Horsetail Flea Beetle

Hippuriphila modeeri

This is a tiny (around 3 mm) flea beetle. Its dark brown punctate elytra become more golden at the rear. Damp places where horsetails are present. No additional images available for this species.

Jonthonota mexicana

Type Locality: Ventanas, Durango, Mexico uncommon (BG data)

Blacklegged Tortoise Beetle

Jonthonota nigripes

Identification: Black scutellum - also, adult reddish-orange with 3 black spots on each elytron; legs mostly black or dark brown, body shape oblong and nearly parallel-sided, elytral margins opaque or translucent but not transparent, surface not high

Keitheatus blakeae

Type Locality: Big Bend State Park, Chisos Mts., Brewster County, Texas, July 12 to 16, 1941. At the time of discovery there were actually millions of the beetles available. A single blow on the host plant would completely cover the beating sheet and

Kuschelina barberi

Identification: Holotype Type Locality: Greeley, Colorado [Weld County]

Kuschelina fallax

Identification: Description : Oblong oval, moderately convex. Head shining, red-brown, coarsely punctate. Prothorax light yellow with irregular red-brown fascia, slightly alutaceous, finely punctate; yellow with black sutural and median fascia; somet

Kuschelina fimbriata

Identification: Dull reddish or brownish, head and pronotum with rather ill defined dark areas of various extent. Elytra usually pale, with narrowly dark suture only. Variations:

Kuschelina floridana

Type Locality: Lakeland, Florida, collected on collards, Jan. 18, 1944, collector unknown.

Kuschelina gibbitarsa

Identification: larger black thoracic spots and shinier elytra than K. thoracica Det. M. A. Quinn, 2018

Kuschelina laeta

Identification: Det. M. A. Quinn, 2013 White apical spots often connected to pale lines within each elytron: Type Locality: Texas

Kuschelina minata

Identification: distinguished mainly by the median elytral vitta which is straight, narrow, often interrupted and not curved at the apex towards the suture as it is in others of the group. Usually the markings are paler also, being reddish brown, and

Kuschelina petaurista

Bechyné, 1958 (Entom. Arb. Frey 9): 686, footnote: Transfer to genus Alagoasa proposed (number and position of setae on labrum)

Kuschelina suturella

Identification: Elytra pale with slightly darker sutural area

Kuschelina tenuilineata

Bechyné, 1958 (Entom. Arb. Frey 9): 686, footnote: Transfer to genus Alagoasa proposed (number and position of setae on labrum)

Freckle-necked Kuschelina

Kuschelina thoracica

Identification: smaller black thoracic spots and flatter irrdescent elytra than K. gibbitarsa

Kuschelina ulkei

Identification: oval convex shape, fine punctation, wide dark elytral vittae , and the subequal 3rd and 4th antennal joints distinguish this species. (emphasis added) Type Locality: FL

Kytorhinus prolixus

Identification: The combination of characters-two sclerotized, prepygidial terga; strongly pectinate male antenna (see Type ); prominent eyes in male; uniformly dark brown or black integument; unarmed metafemur; and lack of tibial carinae-easily char

Lema confusa

Lema confusa is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.

Lema conjuncta

Identification: Each elytron mostly black with narrow lateral margin orange or yellow, also with basal light marking covering 3 intervals and extending 1/8 to nearly 1/2 length of elytron. Pronotum sometimes with 2 black spots.

Lema cyanella

3.5 to 5 mm. This beetle is metallic blue or greenish. The pronotum is constricted in the middle (which separates the genus from Oulema). All tibia have two apical spurs. Oulema species look similar but lack the medially constricted pronotum. A varie

Blue-banded Lema Leaf Beetle

Lema solani

Lema solani is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Leptinotarsa defecta

Syntype from Texas in the British Museum reportedly coll’ed in Runnels Co., TX, but that county was only created the year prior to the species’ description. ( 3 )

Texas Potato Beetle

Leptinotarsa texana

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2009 Type Locality: Esperaza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas

Lexiphanes mexicanus

Lexiphanes mexicanus is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Hawthorn Leaf Beetle

Lochmaea crataegi

This leaf beetle has characteristic black markings on a red background. It is seen along hedgerows and woodland where it feeds on Hawthorn leaves. Reasonably common and widespread in England and Wales.

Heather Beetle

Lochmaea suturalis

4.3 to 6 mm. Brown to dark ochre-coloured Lochmaea caprea is similar but less shiny than L. suturalis . The record must include a note to state whether the beetle was found on Heather. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and

Longitarsus dorsalis

This small beetle (2 to 3 mm) has a black head and an brown pronotum. The dark elytra have broad yellow margins. Often found on post-industrial sites where Ragwort and Groundsel is plentiful. All year round, but perhaps more common in the cooler mont

Longitarsus flavicornis

A small 2.5 to 3 mm pale orange to reddish flea beetle. Associated with Ragworts (Senecio species). Fairly frequent and widespread south of a line from the Mersey to the Humber estuaries. No additional images available for this species.

Ragwort Flea Beetle

Longitarsus jacobaeae

This beetle is light golden brown in colour and between 2 and 4 mm long. It has enlarged femurs typical of flea beetles. Feeds on the leaves of Ragwort, particularly Common Ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea ). All year round peaking June to September. Wides

Longitarsus melanurus

Identification: Dorsum distinctly alutaceous, moderately shining, brownish-piceous, antennae reddish brown, darker apically, legs except for hind femora yellowish.

Longitarsus pellucidus

Longitarsus pellucidus is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.

Longitarsus turbatus

Identification: Oblong oval, not very convex, piceous brown or castaneous, shining, surface with extremely faint bronze lustre. Antennae with four basal joints pale, outer joints gradually piceous. Head smooth. Thorax nearly one half wider than long,

Banded Heliotrope Longitarsus

Longitarsus varicornis

Identification: Shining red-brown, each elyron with mid-lateral brown-black cloud. The 3 basal segments of antennae yellow, with joints 2, 3, and 4 successively longer. Anterior and middle legs yellow. Posterior legs and venter red-brown.

Luperaltica nigripalpis

Identification: color variable: key to Luperaltica species in Wilcox

Luperaltica nitida

Identification: elytra shining blue-green, very finely punctate Det. E. G. Riley Holotype male, allotype female, paratypes 3 males and 6 females, Chisos Mts., Texas, July 17, 1946, D. J. and J. N. Knull collectors, also, 16 males and 8 females, Chiso

Luperaltica semiflava

Identification: Oblong; elytra metallic blue-green; upper surface highly polished throughout ; elytral punctation indistinct Det. E. G. Riley, 2011 Type Locality: Dripping Springs, Organ Mtns, sc. New Mexico

Luperaltica senilis

Identification: key to Luperaltica species in Wilcox

Luperosoma subsulcatum

Identification: The semicostate elytra readily distinguish this species. (Blake 1958) Males have weakly enlarged terminal antennomeres and a small subapical notch on the inner margin of their mesotibia. (Per E.G. Riley) Lectotype Locality: Yuma, AZ (

Pale-legged flea beetle

Lysathia ludoviciana

Identification: note pale legs (Fall, 1910) Det. E.G. Riley, 2009 Type Locality: Morgan City, LA

Lythraria salicariae 0

Lythraria salicariae

Identification: see habitus photos: specimens ▪ live individual

Malacorhinus acaciae

Malacorhinus acaciae is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Malacorhinus tilghmani 0

Malacorhinus tilghmani

Identification: elytra with sides angulate, excavated bearing tubercles; antennae 1st enlarged (Mohamedsaid & Furth, 2011) ESA member George M. Greene (1916) exhibited a male Malacorhinus tripunctatus Jacoby collected by H. Mittendorf in New Braunfel

Coastal Red Bruchid

Megacerus coryphae

Megacerus coryphae is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Megacerus cubicus 0

Megacerus cubicus

Identification: black pronotum, black-bordered red elytra, and horizontal black line on the pygidium (sometimes broken into two short lines). see Fig. 224-225, Vol II

Megacerus discoidus

Identification: This handsome species with its quadrate, red elytral maculae can hardly be mistaken for any other eastern American bruchid.