Germar's reed beetle
Plateumaris germari
This record describes Plateumaris germari (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Plateumaris germari is a species of aquatic leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in western North America.
Identification notes
View of hind femur; note broad (non-clavate) shape and prominent spine. - comment: Tim Loh 2013
Wikipedia reference for Plateumaris germari: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plateumaris_germari.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Donaciinae
- Tribe
- Plateumarini
- Genus
- Plateumaris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
w NA (CA-AK) to NY-NF
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Plateumaris germari (Mannerheim 1843)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Plateumaris germari. 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 Germar's reed beetle (8)
Photo credits: (c) Peter Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Peter Hollinger | (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon | (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon | no rights reserved, uploaded by Nick Bédard | (c) Scott Gilmore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Scott Gilmore | (c) François Rousseu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by François Rousseu | Contributed by Tim Loh; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Germar's reed beetle
What is Germar's reed beetle?
Germar's reed beetle (Plateumaris germari) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Germar's reed beetle?
View of hind femur; note broad (non-clavate) shape and prominent spine. - comment: Tim Loh 2013
Where is Germar's reed beetle found?
Range: w NA (CA-AK) to NY-NF