Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle
Typophorus nigritus
This record describes Typophorus nigritus (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
irridescent, tapering pronotum, and destinctive femora Of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of Convolvulaceae, I. batatas is the only crop plant of major importance. The domestication of sweet potato occurred in either Central or South America. In Central America, domesticated sweet potatoes were present at least 5,000 years ago. - Wiki
Wikipedia reference for Typophorus nigritus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typophorus nigritus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Eumolpinae
- Tribe
- Typophorini
- Genus
- Typophorus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e.US to NM (NM-FL-NJ-WI) to Mex. - Map , common across e.-c.-n. Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: asso. w/ Calystegia, Convolvulus, Ipomea (Convolvulaceae), on Purple Bindweed, Morning Glory ( Ipomoea cordatotriloba ) in central Texas
Life History
damage to Sweet Potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) •Adults feed mainly on the foliage leaving large holes in the lamina of the leaf. •Damage to the sweet potato roots is caused mainly by larval stage that create shallow tunnels on the surface of the roots/tubers. •Farmers report losses up to 90% (Kundun, 2021)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Typophorus nigritus (Fabricius 1801)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Typophorus nigritus. 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 Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle (9)
Photo credits: (c) prioninae_eu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | (c) Mike Quinn, San Marcos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mike Quinn, San Marcos | (c) Liz Brunson, all rights reserved, uploaded by Liz Brunson | (c) André Menegotto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by André Menegotto | (c) A. Rector, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by A. Rector | (c) Tracey Fandre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Tracey Fandre | (c) Elio Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Elio Rodríguez | Contributed by Boris Büche; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle
What is Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle?
Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle (Typophorus nigritus) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle?
irridescent, tapering pronotum, and destinctive femora
Where is Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle found?
Range: e.US to NM (NM-FL-NJ-WI) to Mex. - Map , common across e.-c.-n. Texas
What does Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle eat?
The diet of the Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle includes asso. w/ Calystegia, Convolvulus, Ipomea (Convolvulaceae), on Purple Bindweed, Morning Glory ( Ipomoea cordatotriloba ) in central Texas.
What is the life cycle of a Sweet Potato Leaf Beetle?
damage to Sweet Potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) •Adults feed mainly on the foliage leaving large holes in the lamina of the leaf. •Damage to the sweet potato roots is caused mainly by larval stage that create shallow tunnels on the surface of the roots/tubers. •Farmers report losses up to 90% (Kundun, 2021)