Chrysomelinae Temporal range: | |
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Chrysolina fastuosa | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
Family: | Chrysomelidae |
Subfamily: | Chrysomelinae Latreille, 1802 |
Tribes | |
The Chrysomelinae are a subfamily of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), commonly known as broad-bodied leaf beetles or broad-shouldered leaf beetles. It includes some 3,000 species around the world. [1]
The best-known member is the notorious Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), an important agricultural pest.
Adults of Chrysomelinae are beetles with the following features: antennae inserted on or adjacent to anterior edge of head; inner face of each mandible with large membranous prostheca; each wing with only one anal cell (sometimes the wings are reduced or absent); metendosternite lateral arms without lobes; femora without internal spring sclerite; tibial spurs absent; tarsi without bifid setae; stridulatory mechanism absent; male aedeagus without tegminal ring and the testes not fused within a common membrane; female kotpresse absent. [2] In terms of general appearance, the body is convex, round or oval, and often brightly coloured. [1] The colours and patterns may vary even within a species. [3] Flightless species (at least in the Australian chrysomeline fauna) tend to be small and dark, and also nocturnal. [2]
Larvae can be recognised by: 6 pairs of stemmata on the head; labial palpi 2-segmented; mandibles palmate; labrum freely articulated; annular spiracles; legs present, with paronychial appendix and pretarsus; not in a transportable case. [2]
Both adults and larvae have glands that secrete chemicals to defend against predators. [2]
Chrysomelinae are herbivorous and usually feed on plant leaves, less commonly on flowers. [2] There is geographic variation: chrysomelines in the temperate northern hemisphere mostly feed on annual or perennial herbs, whereas the temperate southern hemisphere chrysomelines prefer woody shrubs and trees. [4]
Larval cannibalism is known from some Chrysomelinae. [3]
The general life cycle of Chrysomelinae begins with eggs laid on a host plant. These hatch into larvae which feed on the plant. When fully developed, larvae go down to the soil to pupate. Adults emerge and feed on host plants again, and also reproduce. There are variations on this cycle, such as ovoviviparity (larvae emerging from eggs as they are laid) or viviparity (giving birth to larvae), eggs being dropped from host plants, or pupation occurring on host plants ( Plagiodera ). [2] [3]
Larvae of various species form groups, possibly as defense against predators and parasitoids, while other species have solitary larvae. Adults of Zygogramma appendiculata have also been observed aggregating. [3]
Larvae of some Platyphora attach trichomes from their host plant to hairs on their back, possibly to camouflage themselves. [3]
Feigning death occurs in adults and larvae of various species. [3]
Some species of Chrysomelinae express high levels of maternal care by insect standards. Not only do they locate food-rich environments for their eggs, they protect both the eggs and the larvae after hatching. [5]
The oldest members of the family are several species of the genus Mesolpinus, belonging to the extinct monotypic tribe Mesolpinini, known from the Aptian aged Yixian Formation of China. [6]
The subfamily includes the following genera:
The Colorado potato beetle, also known as the Colorado beetle, the ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle, or the potato bug, is a major pest of potato crops. It is about 10 mm long, with a bright yellow/orange body and five bold brown stripes along the length of each of its elytra. Native to the Rocky Mountains, it spread rapidly in potato crops across America and then Europe from 1859 onwards.
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.
Neochlamisus is a genus of leaf beetles in the tribe Fulcidacini. They are members of the case-bearing leaf beetle group, the Camptosomata. Measuring 3–4 millimeters in length as adults, they are cryptic, superficially resembling caterpillar frass. Seventeen, sometimes 18 species are presently accepted in this genus, all of them occurring in North America.
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.
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.
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.
Leptinotarsa peninsularis is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Leptinotarsa rubiginosa, the reddish potato beetle, 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.
Phola is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae. It occurs in east and south-east Asia, the south-west pacific, eastern and northern Australia. It was formerly a synonym of Chalcolampra. It is distinguished from other chrysomeline genera in Australia by the twisted epipleura, but its recognition may render either Chalcolampra or Phyllocharis paraphyletic.
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.