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)

Megacerus impiger

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

Megacerus leucospilus

Identification: red and white alternating stripes on elytra Type Locality: Mexico, Veracruz

Megacerus schaefferianus

Identification: pattern on pygidium like in M. discoidus , but all black, above with uniformely distributed, thin vestiture. Type locality: Nogales, Arizona

Megalostomis dimidiata

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley Walter et al. (1938) report, "The larvae of Megalostomis major are casebearers. Their cases, standing out from the walls of the runways like small rounded pegs, present one of the most curious features in the [ Atta t

Megalostomis pyropyga

Identification: The metallic blue green and purple pronotum and elytral apex are unique for US Megalostomis . … John R. Watts, 8 July, 2008

Megalostomis subfasciata

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

Megascelis texana

Type Locality: Brownsville, TX (Linell 1898) Texas considers this to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) ( 6 )

Meibomeus musculus

Identification: male antenna entirely pale yellow, female partly infuscated; male mesofemur yellow, female mesofemur partly infuscated; tarsi, fore leg, and mesotibia yellow. Vestiture grayish white, variegated, in an irregular band across middle of

Merobruchus insolitus

Identification: The salient characters that mark this species are the dark red body , elytral margins clouded with black, white basal pygidial triangle elongated into evenly tapered dart . (emphasis added) Type locality: Guatemala, near Guatemala Cit

Texas Ebony Bruchid

Merobruchus major

Type Locality: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas Both Merobruchus major and Stator beali are seed predators of Ebenopsis (=Pithecellobium) ebano ; however, S. beali also attacks other species of Ebenopsis whereas M. major is an obligat

Merobruchus placidus 0

Merobruchus placidus

Identification: the most variable and widespread species in the genus on the North American continent. Type Locality: Texas

Merobruchus terani

Type locality: Costa Rica, Guanacaste Prov., Santa Rosa N.P.

Merobruchus vacillator

Merobruchus vacillator (Merobruchus vacillator) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as leaf beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Bruchinae, tribe Bruchini, suborder Polyphaga

Metachroma interruptum

Identification: Broadly oblong oval, without strong elytral costae - Blake's final couplet leading to this sp. "Apparently this species is more or less dimorphic in its coloring, the male often being entirely pale without dark markings, the female us

Metachroma longicolle

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley, 2009 Type Locality: San Juan Bautista in Tabasco, Mexico

Metachroma luridum

Identification: "Elytra three times as long as prothorax and usually dark on side" - last couplet of Blake's (1970) key... But, "[a]s in so many species of Metachroma there is considerable variation in coloring, some specimens being entirely without

Metachroma orientale

Identification: oblong oval, shining, pale yellow-brown with head and prothorax usually a deeper yellowish or reddish brown Type Locality: North Carolina

Metachroma pellucidum

Identification: "Apparently there is little variation in its coloring. It can be distinguished by the convex shape of the elytra, without a conspicuous intrahumeral sulcus, by the fine punctation on the pronotum, and by the very fine elytral punctati

Metachroma quercatum

Identification: Prothorax with dense elongate strigose punctures

Metachroma suturale

Identification: either entirely piceous (glossy black) or reddish brown with black sutural darkening of varying width (see type), lateral stria not extending up on inner side of humerus - Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 Type Locality: "Texas, Mr. Haldeman."

Metachroma texanum

Metachroma texanum is a species of leaf beetle. It is found in coastal states of the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to Florida. Its length is between 3.5 and 4.0 mm. It was first described by the American entomologist Charles Frederic

Metachroma viticola

Identification: Prothorax lustrous deep reddish brown, minutely punctate. ( 3 ) Det. E. G. Riley, 2013 Type Locality: Brighton, Texas (apparently in Nueces Co.)

Metaparia mandibuloflexa

Identification: Metaparia mandibuloflexa is distinguished from other species of Metaparia by the dorsal lobes of the male mandibles projecting at 45°. Only one other species of Metaparia prosopis , has male mandibles with a prominent ridge, but in th

Metaparia opacicollis

Identification: Det. E. G. Riley Type Locality: S.W. Tex

Metaparia viridimicans

Metaparia viridimicans is a species of leaf beetle. It is found in North America.

Metrioidea morula

Identification: Elongate, shining black; thorax slightly shorter than wide, quadrate, with all angles nearly right-angled and not prominent; third joint of the antennae being scarcely longer than the second, and both united are not longer than the fo

Microrhopala rileyi 0

Microrhopala rileyi

Microrhopala rileyi is a species of beetle of the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in the United States (Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma).

Goldenrod Leafminer

Microrhopala vittata

Identification: varies from bold to nearly entirely black The dull reddish stripes on the elytra, the 8-segmented antennae and the smooth (not serrate/toothed) elytral margins distinguish this species Fairly variable in coloration: specimens from dif

Microrhopala xerene

Identification: The eight-segmented antennae, the red stripe and subapical spot on each elytron, and the serrate elytral margins distinguish this species ( Species profile )

Yellow-margined Leaf Beetle

Microtheca ochroloma

Microtheca ochroloma, the yellow-margined leaf beetle, is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America and South America.

Microtheca picea

Microtheca picea is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America and South America.

Mimosestes amicus

Identification: Body black with some reddish areas, vestiture entirely gray; eyes flat against side of head (last key couplet) easily separated from other congeners and nearly all other US bruchids by having the posterior margin of the eye merging sm

Rufus Clouded Bruchid

Mimosestes nubigens

Identification: Easily recognizable by the unique, pronounced denticulate "shoulders" of the pronotum. Other characters are the subangulate postocular lobe of the eye and the large, transverse plate in the internal sac. Type Locality: "Bresil"

Mimosestes protractus

Identification: The elongate, parallel-sided form, reddish-orange appendages, and depression of the 5th sternum should easily separate this species from other North American Mimosestes Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 Type locality: Lower California

Mimosestes ulkei

This species, while not rare in collections, is less abundant than other species of Mimosestes .

Miraces aeneipennis

Identification: the head and thorax, while usually yellow, tends to become brownish or piceous. The meta-pectus is also similarly variable in color. The surface lustre of the elytra may be violaceous or bronzed, but in none of the dozen specimens bef

Miraces modesta

Described from a single specimen collected in Biscayne, Miami-Dade Co., Fla., by Mr. E. A. Schwarz. (Horn, 1893) Rare (Michael C. Thomas, 21 July, 2008)

Monoaster fulgidus

Identification: final key couplet: Elytra bright, shining blue Type Locality: Uvalde, Texas, D. J. and J. N. Knull

Monoaster linus 0

Monoaster linus

Identification: last key couplet: Head, abdomen, and legs black; male abdomen normal; each elytron pale with all margins and one median longitudinal stripe black Type Locality: Chisos Mts., Tex., VI-23-61, D. J. & J. N. Knull,

Monomacra bumeliae

Identification: "An inconspicuous species but easy known from the described species by the color and markings. The dark cloud on each elytron is in some specimens better defined than in others and the markings of the thorax are at best indistinct and

Monoxia elegans

Identification: The species key is available in Blake 1939 and Wilcox 1965 , with the former having the detailed original description too. The key requires inspection of the male's aedeagus. However, host plant identification, locality, and other key

Southern Corn Leaf Beetle (cyphus-denticollis Complex)

Myochrous cyphus-denticollis

Identification: Myochrous sp. denticollis-cyphus Complex Det. M. A. Quinn, 2010

Neltumius arizonensis

Identification: Black variegated with white and ochreous pubescence Type Locality: Pinal Mountains, Gila Co., Arizona

Neltumius gibbithorax 0

Neltumius gibbithorax

Identification: easily distinguished by the rounded protuberance in the apical one-half of the pronotal disk, the body size, and the feebly patterned pygidium in both sexes. It is subequal in size to N. arizonensis , but larger than N. texanus . Type

Snakewood Bruchid

Neltumius texanus

Neltumius texanus is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Neobrotica pluristicta

Type Locality: Baboquivari Mountains, southern Arizona

Neochlamisus velutinus

Neochlamisus velutinus is a species of warty leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Neocrepidodera transversa

The genus is identified by the transverse furrow across the pronotum. This is an orangey brown flea beetle. N. transversa is distinguished from the similar N. ferruginea by having the elytral pores in ragged lines (compared with the neat, straight li

Neofidia humeralis

Neofidia humeralis is a species of leaf beetle. It ranges from southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, along the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur, south to Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico. It was first described as two species

Neofidia longipes

Identification: Integument dark; at least one pair of femora bicolored (rarely not so), base lighter reddish compared to darker distal areas; coarse pronotal punctures; males with front tibial spurs separated by at least the width of spur base

Grape Rootworm

Neofidia lurida

Neofidia lurida, the grape rootworm, is a species of leaf beetle. Grape rootworms are found in eastern North America, south to Mexico, and have been recently reported as far north as Quebec. Adults are typically 4.9 to 7.0 mm in length. They are colo

Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle

Neogalerucella calmariensis

Identification: "Light brown, usually with a black triangle or a broad, dark stripe on the thorax. The body has parallel sides, is 3-5 mm long and half as wide, and is punctuated with coarse dots and fine, dense hairs." - Cornell Imported from Europe

Neogalerucella pusilla

Identification: usually pale, with dark spots on vertex and shoulders. less frequently with pattern like N. calmariensis . safe recognition (and separation from native species) by male genitalia. introduced to combat the invasive Lythrum weeds ( 3 )

Neohaemonia flagellata

Neohaemonia flagellata is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Neohaemonia melsheimeri

Identification: distinguished from other members of the genus by the presence of oblique, impressed, usually darkened bands on either side of the midline of the pronotum, as well as its small size. (Lapierre et al. 2019)

Neohaemonia nigricornis

Neohaemonia nigricornis is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae found in North America. Its range includes the northern United States and southern Canada.

Neolema cordata

Identification: elytral anterior maculae coalesce to form a heart-shaped spot

Neolema ephippium

Neolema ephippium is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Neolema quadriguttata

Identification: N. sexpunctata (e.US, 4.8‒6.2 mm) has humeral dark spots & smaller, denser strial punctures

Neolochmaea obliterata

Identification: From Galerucinae: hind femur not abnormally broad and adapted for jumping; tarsal claws simple, or bifid with inner lobe comparatively narrow and pointed; procoxal cavities closed behind; tarsomere 1 about as long as 5; external surfa

Nesaecrepida infuscata

Nesaecrepida infuscata is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Octotoma championi

Introduced into Australia for the control of Lantana

Soybean Leafminer

Odontota horni

Odontota horni, the soybean leafminer, is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Odontota scapularis

Identification: femoral base orange Det. E. G. Riley

Odontota signaticollis

Identification: The dark metallic greenish blue elytra trimmed with red and the pair of faint orange spots on the otherwise dark pronotum are diagnostic.

Omophoita albicollis

Identification: Median spot on each elytron oblique and linear - Doris Blake "This probably is not O. cyanipennis , but a new record for U.S. It seems identical with e.g. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/431771 from the Caribbean, which is di

Oomorphus floridanus

Type Locality: collected in some numbers at Biscayne, Fla. by E. A. Schwarz.

Ophraella americana

Identification: generally more oval than most of its congeners, mid-elytral stripe generally straight, subsutural line also straight but faint Det. E. G. Riley, 2010 uncommon

Ophraella conferta

Identification: Det. from specimen, Brad Barnd, 2022

Marsh Elder Leaf Beetle

Ophraella notulata

Ophraella notulata is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Six-lined Goldenrod Leaf Beetle

Ophraella sexvittata

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

Oulema collaris

Identification: note black head, coarse elytral punctuation Dets. E. G. Riley, 2009

Oulema concolor

Identification: entire body dark, nearly all spmns bluish above, but may be green

Oulema cornuta

Oulema cornuta is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Oulema duftschmidi s.s.

Length is about 6 mm. The elytra have a green iridescent sheen and are studded by tiny holes. The 'head' is red. The two species Oulema duftschmidi and O. melanopus are almost impossible to separate without detailed examination. If that detailed exam

Cereal Leaf Beetle

Oulema duftschmidi/melanopus agg.

Length is about 6 mm. The elytra have a green iridescent sheen and well punctuated. The 'head' is red. The two species Oulema duftschmidi and Oulema melanopus are almost impossible to separate without detailed examination. Unless the necessary detail

Oulema elongata

Identification: color variation is negligable Type Locality: Larsen Sanctuary, Hardin Co., Texas

Oulema longipennis

Identification: Thorax reddish, very rarely with dark spots. Remainder of body black, elytra usually with bluish tint.

Oulema margineimpressa

Identification: O. margineimpressa - pronotum inflated, clearly widest anteriorly, and mostly smooth. O. concolor - pronotum not inflate, only slightly widest anteriorly, and finely and coarsely punctate throughout. O. margineimpressa - distinct depr

Oulema melanopus s.s.

Length is about 6 mm. The elytra have a green iridescent sheen and are studded by tiny holes. The 'head' is red. The two species Oulema duftschmidi and Oulema melanopus are almost impossible to separate without detailed examination. If that detailed

Oulema obscura

A small (3 to 4 mm) beetle. It is greeny black in colour; the elytra have studded rows running down their length. Lema cyanella is similar but distinguished by having the pronotum constriction near the middle and not near the base as in Oulema . Amon

Oulema sayi

Identification: black spot on pronotum sometimes absent

Oulema simulans

Identification: last antennal segment(s) sometimes pale; vertex (of head) with a distinct longitudinal depression; most of tibia and tarsi brown to red brown. O. simulans typically bears moderately developed interantennal tubercules Type Locality: Es

Oulema variabilis

Identification: third antenomere nearly the same length as the fourth. Det. E. G. Riley, 2014 Type Locality: La Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, Texas

Pachybrachis alticola

Pachybrachis alticola is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Pachybrachis americanus 0

Pachybrachis americanus

Identification: Small, pale yellow, very coarsely, diffusely punctate, feebly and obscurely maculate with brown

Pachybrachis analis

Identification: Male. Moderately robust, from almost all black with lateral margins yellow to primarily yellow with black markings on pronotum and elytra, sparsely covered in white pubescence; prothorax with narrow, entire or subentire, smooth median

Pachybrachis arizonensis

Pachybrachis arizonensis is a species of case-bearing leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in North America.

Pachybrachis armbrusti

Identification: Pronotal M moderate to heavy, black to reddish orange and sharply outlined, finely alutaceous and shiny, punctation sparse and widely separated (last key couplet) Det. E. G. Riley, 2026 Type Locality: Haulover, Fla, Hubbard & Schwarz,

Pachybrachis atomarius

Identification: Dark brown or black, irregularly mottled with yellow or dirty yellow; luster dull. Frons of males often yellow with inverted dark Y, branches of which arise from antennal bases. Eyes not prominent. Pronotum often with median anterior

Pachybrachis bivittatus

Identification: the outer stripe rarely if ever continuous, and usually interrupted to form three spots, one or more of which may be lacking.

Pachybrachis bloxham

Identification: intact lateral line (plus location) most diagnostic feature PARATYPE Only 15 specimens were conclusively determined by Riley and Barney as P. bloxham

Pachybrachis brevicornis

Identification: Robust, yellow, with more or less heavy fuscous standard markings; eyes moderately distant, front with ocular lines; antennae unusually short; elytra strongly striate; front claws of male not appreciably enlarged. (Fall 1915) Elytra d

Pachybrachis bullatus

Identification: one of the most distinct Pachys in our fauna variegated with pale to dark brown, surface polished, eyes without ocular lines elytra with a transverse row of more or less conspicuous convex pale spots behind the middle Front claws of m

Pachybrachis caelatus

Identification: "The most important characters of this species are the widely distant eyes combined with the very large front claws of the male."

Pachybrachis cephalicus

Identification: Variable in coloration. Examination of male aedeagus may be needed to separate from similar species.

Pachybrachis chaoticus

Identification: Robust, yellow, brown punctate and with rather sharply defined brown markings; eyes narrowly separated, front without ocular lines; punctuation throughout sparse and irregular; front claws of male strongly enlarged Det. M. A. Quinn, 2

Pachybrachis chester

Known only from one locality in Georgia and one locality in South Carolina. (holotype + 6 paratypes). GEORGIA: Dodge Co., Chester, 1.vi.1904, Georgia State Collection [1♂, holotype, USNM]; same data, except 26.v.1904, Georgia State Collection [1♂, US

Pachybrachis clarki 0

Pachybrachis clarki

Identification: readily recognized by its widely separated eyes, ocular lines, and males with enlarged foreclaws. Type Locality: “FLORIDA, Collier Co. / Collier-Seminole / State Park 25°59.3′N, / 81°35.6′W / 20 Dec. 2005, / S. M. Clark & R. J. Barney

Pachybrachis conformis 0

Pachybrachis conformis

Identification: easily recognized by the three pronotal vittae