The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. Numerous subfamilies are recognized, but the precise taxonomy and systematics are likely to change with ongoing research.
The tansy beetle is a species of leaf beetle. The common name derives from its main foodplant, tansy, but it can also use other wetland plants such as gypsywort and water mint. It measures 7.7–10.5 mm in length and has a characteristic bright metallic green colouration, with pitted elytra and a coppery tinge. In addition to the nominotypical subspecies, which repeats the specific name, C. graminis graminis, there are five further distinct subspecies of tansy beetle, which, collectively, have a Palearctic distribution, although in the majority of countries where it is found the species is declining. In the United Kingdom it is designated as 'Nationally Rare'. The stronghold population here is located along the banks of the river Ouse in York, North Yorkshire. Other, small, fenland populations exist at Woodwalton Fen and at Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) reserve.
The bean weevils or seed beetles are a subfamily (Bruchinae) of beetles, now placed in the family Chrysomelidae, though they have historically been treated as a separate family. They are granivores, and typically infest various kinds of seeds or beans, living most of their lives inside a single seed. The subfamily includes about 1,650 species and are found worldwide.
The Cassidinae are a subfamily of the leaf beetles, or Chrysomelidae. The antennae arise close to each other and some members have the pronotal and elytral edges extended to the side and covering the legs so as to give them the common name of tortoise beetles. Some members, such as in the tribe Hispini, are notable for the spiny outgrowths to the pronotum and elytra.
The Megalopodidae are a small family of leaf beetles, previously included as a subfamily within the Chrysomelidae. One of its constituent subfamilies, Zeugophorinae, has also frequently been treated as a subfamily within Chrysomelidae. The family contains approximately 30 genera worldwide, primarily in the nominate subfamily Megalopodinae, and mostly circumtropical.
Gastrophysa viridula, known as the green dock beetle, green dock leaf beetle or green sorrel beetle, is a species of beetle native to Europe.
Chrysomela populi is a species of broad-shouldered leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae.
Phratora vitellinae, the brassy leaf beetle, formerly Phyllodecta vitellinae, is a beetle of the family Chrysomelidae found in Europe and Asia. It feeds on Populus and Salix species. The evolution of its host plant preferences and the mechanism by which it uses host plant chemicals to make a larval defensive secretion have been the subject of intense study by research groups in Europe and the Nordic countries.
Peltoschema is a genus of beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, insects also called leaf beetles. This genus contains about 94 species. Some mimic ladybird beetles and others are pests and can cause serious defoliation of their host plants. Peltoschema orphana can defoliate and kill populations of silver wattle. and badly damage Acacia mearnsii. Peltoschemasuturalis is native to Australia and another pest of Acacias.
Paropsides is a genus of beetles commonly called leaf beetles and in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. They are distributed from eastern Asia to eastern Australia. Paropsides are small and specialist feeders on native Australian plants. There are 21 species in Australia and they occur mainly on the south-eastern states. The green Paropsides calypso is a native species which commonly attacks the lillipilli genus Syzygium. Paropsides opposita feeds on Tea tree Melaleuca sp.
Plagiodera versicolora is a species of leaf beetle in the genus Plagiodera.
Phratora laticollis is a species of leaf beetle found in Europe and Asia. This beetle is found on Populus species and the chemistry and production of its larval defensive secretions and host plant relationships have been studied extensively.
Chrysomelini is a tribe of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. There are over 150 described genera in Chrysomelini, variously arranged into subtribes, though the exact number and constituency of these subtribes is a source of ongoing debate.
Leptinotarsa peninsularis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
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, and is deep purple or coppery red in color.
Lamprolina is an Australian genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) found in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Parasyrphus melanderi is a flower fly that is best known as a larval predator on the leaf beetle Chrysomela aeneicollis in the Sierra Nevada range of California.
Phratora tibialis is a species of leaf beetle found in Europe and parts of Asia. This beetle is found on willows and the chemistry and production of its larval defensive secretions and host plant relationships have been studied extensively.
Calomela bartoni is a beetle in the Chrysomelidae family, which is found in New South Wales and Victoria.
Doryphora is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. It includes nine species from Central and South America.
