| Calligrapha | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Calligrapha spiraeae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Subfamily: | Chrysomelinae |
| Tribe: | Chrysomelini |
| Genus: | Calligrapha Chevrolat, 1836 |
| Type species | |
| Chrysomela polyspila [1] Germar, 1821 | |
| Subgenera [2] | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Calligrapha is a large genus of American Chrysomelinae (a subfamily of leaf beetles), with over 100 species occurring from North America through Central America. [2]
Some members of the subgenus Zygogramma are agricultural pests, while others are used as biological control agents. Calligrapha exclamationis is a pest species of sunflower crops in North America. [5] At least two species have also been used as a form of biological pest control: Calligrapha bicolorata was introduced to India as a biocontrol agent for the weed Parthenium hysterophorus , [6] and Calligrapha suturalis was introduced to Russia as a control for Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed). [7]