Common Willow Calligrapha
Calligrapha multipunctata
This record describes Calligrapha multipunctata (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
differs from C. philadelphica primarily in having the pronotum light with some large dark areas, rather than uniformly dark. Also, dark areas including spots are more likely to be dark metallic green in C. philadelphica vs black in C. multipunctata . C. m. bigsbyana, C. suturella , and C. philadelphica are similar, but note differences in pale pronotal band and elytral markings. (Gómez-Zurita et al. 2004)
Wikipedia reference for Calligrapha multipunctata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calligrapha multipunctata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Chrysomelinae
- Tribe
- Chrysomelini
- Genus
- Calligrapha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
most of NA (NS-GA to AK-CA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: willows ( Salix , Salicaceae) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Calligrapha multipunctata (Say 1824)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Calligrapha multipunctata. 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 Common Willow Calligrapha (9)
Photo credits: (c) North Branch Nature Center, all rights reserved, uploaded by North Branch Nature Center | (c) Pam Piombino, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pam Piombino | (c) Christian Grenier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Christian Grenier | (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet | (c) Michael H. King, all rights reserved | (c) Matthew Ireland, all rights reserved, uploaded by Matthew Ireland | Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Stephen_WV , Mike Quinn , v belov , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Willow Calligrapha
What is Common Willow Calligrapha?
Common Willow Calligrapha (Calligrapha multipunctata) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Common Willow Calligrapha?
6.5-8.5 mm
How do you identify Common Willow Calligrapha?
differs from C. philadelphica primarily in having the pronotum light with some large dark areas, rather than uniformly dark. Also, dark areas including spots are more likely to be dark metallic green in C. philadelphica vs black in C. multipunctata . C. m. bigsbyana, C. suturella , and C. philadelphica are similar, but note differences in pale pronotal band and elytral markings. (Gómez-Zurita et al. 2004)
Where is Common Willow Calligrapha found?
Range: most of NA (NS-GA to AK-CA)
What does Common Willow Calligrapha eat?
The diet of the Common Willow Calligrapha includes hosts: willows ( Salix , Salicaceae) ( 3 ).