Freckle-necked Kuschelina
Kuschelina thoracica
This record describes Kuschelina thoracica (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
smaller black thoracic spots and flatter irrdescent elytra than K. gibbitarsa
Wikipedia reference for Kuschelina thoracica: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuschelina_thoracica.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Galerucinae
- Tribe
- Alticini
- Genus
- Kuschelina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US (NH-FL to SD-TX) - Map , uncommon outside of FL
Diet and Behavior
Diet: coll'ed from Forked Bluecurls ( Trichostema dichotomum , Lamiaceae) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Kuschelina thoracica (Fabricius 1775)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Kuschelina thoracica. 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 Freckle-necked Kuschelina (9)
Photo credits: (c) Tom Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tom Murray | (c) Chris Rorabaugh, all rights reserved, uploaded by Chris Rorabaugh | (c) Nash Turley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nash Turley | (c) Clint Gibson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Clint Gibson | (c) Misti, all rights reserved, uploaded by Misti | (c) Don Sutherland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Don Sutherland | (c) Owen Ridgen, all rights reserved, uploaded by Owen Ridgen | Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Freckle-necked Kuschelina
What is Freckle-necked Kuschelina?
Freckle-necked Kuschelina (Kuschelina thoracica) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Freckle-necked Kuschelina?
smaller black thoracic spots and flatter irrdescent elytra than K. gibbitarsa
Where is Freckle-necked Kuschelina found?
Range: e US (NH-FL to SD-TX) - Map , uncommon outside of FL
What does Freckle-necked Kuschelina eat?
The diet of the Freckle-necked Kuschelina includes coll'ed from Forked Bluecurls ( Trichostema dichotomum , Lamiaceae) ( 3 ).