Aspen Skeletonizer
Phratora purpurea
This record describes Phratora purpurea (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Phratora purpurea, the aspen skeletonizer, is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found across North America, including Maryland, New York, Ontario, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. It feeds on willows and poplars (Populus tremuloides, Populus grandidentata, Populus balsamifera, and Salix fragilis), and is deep purple or coppery red in color.
Wikipedia reference for Phratora purpurea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phratora purpurea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Chrysomelinae
- Tribe
- Chrysomelini
- Genus
- Phratora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
n. NA: Ph. p. purpurea boreal transcontinental, Ph. p. novaeterrae NF
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Phratora purpurea Brown 1951
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Phratora purpurea. 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 Aspen Skeletonizer (3)
Photo credits: (c) Tom Murray, certains droits réservés (CC BY-NC), publiées par Tom Murray | (c) tapaculo99, certains droits réservés (CC BY-NC), publiées par tapaculo99 | Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by v belov