Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle
Brachypnoea lecontei
This record describes Brachypnoea lecontei (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
body color metallic purple, green, indigo, or brown; legs can be pale or black; five terminal antennal segments dark, prominent and uniform, basal ant. segments generally pale, punctations coarse on elytral, fine on pronotum. Type collected by Horace Haldeman during U.S. and Mexico boundary survey (LeConte 1858)
Wikipedia reference for Brachypnoea lecontei: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachypnoea lecontei.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Eumolpinae
- Tribe
- Eumolpini
- Genus
- Brachypnoea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Great Plains (NM-TX-MO-KS, SD) - Map , most records from Trans-Pecos to Red and Brazos Rivers, mirroring the range of their primarily host of Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis )
Seasonal Activity
mostly Apr-May
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) in TX ( 3 ) ( 4 )
Life History
225 spmns coll'ed from April to early May over two summers at two sites in w. Travis Co., primarily from Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Brachypnoea lecontei Riley, Clark & Seeno 2003
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Brachypnoea lecontei. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle (6)
Photo credits: (c) Mike Quinn, San Marcos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mike Quinn, San Marcos | Contributed by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle
What is Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle?
Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle (Brachypnoea lecontei) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle?
body color metallic purple, green, indigo, or brown; legs can be pale or black; five terminal antennal segments dark, prominent and uniform, basal ant. segments generally pale, punctations coarse on elytral, fine on pronotum.
Where is Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle found?
Range: Great Plains (NM-TX-MO-KS, SD) - Map , most records from Trans-Pecos to Red and Brazos Rivers, mirroring the range of their primarily host of Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis )
What does Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle eat?
The diet of the Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle includes Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) in TX ( 3 ) ( 4 ).
When is Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle active?
Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle: seasonal activity - mostly Apr-May.
What is the life cycle of a Texas Live Oak Leaf Beetle?
225 spmns coll'ed from April to early May over two summers at two sites in w. Travis Co., primarily from Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) ( 3 )