Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae)

Leaf beetles are a beetle family of at least 37,000 species, though there may be 50,000 or more, making them one of the largest families of beetles currently seen globally.

Common Beetles Belonging to this Family

Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata)
Striped Flea Beetle (Phyllotreta striolata)
Imperial Tortoise Beetle (Stolas imperialis)
Rainbow Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina cerealis)
Cottonwood Leaf Beetle (Chrysomela scripta)
Red-headed Flea Beetle (Systena frontalis)
Striped Cucumber Beetle (Acalymma vittatum)
Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)
Pigweed Flea Beetle (Disonycha glabrata)
Corn Flea Beetle (Chaetocnema pulicaria)
Mottled Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala guttata)
Blue Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus)

Scientific Classification

These beetles are separated into 12 subfamilies, consisting of various genera.

1. Bruchinae

Amblycerini

Amblycerus
Spermophagus
Zabrotes

Bruchini

Abutiloneus
Acanthoscelides
Algarobius
Althaeus
Bonaerius
Caryedes
Cosmobruchus
Ctenocolum
Dahlibruchus
Gibbobruchus
Lithraeus
Margaritabruchus
Meibomeus
Megasennius
Merobruchus
Mimosestes
Neltumius
Neobruchidius
Palpibruchus
Pectinibruchus
Penthobruchus
Pseudopachymerina
Pygiopachymerus
Rhipibruchus
Scutobruchus
Sennius
Spatulobruchus
Stator
Stylantheus
Acanthobruchidius
Borowiecus
Bruchidius
Callosobruchus
Conicobruchus
Decellebruchus
Horridobruchus
Kingsolverius
Megabruchidius
Palaeoacanthoscelides
Parasulcobruchus
Pygobruchidius
Salviabruchus
Specularius
Sulcobruchus
Tuberculobruchus
Bruchus
Megacerus

Eubaptini

Eubaptus

Kytorhinini

Kytorhinus

Pachymerini

Aforedon
Caryedon
Caryotrypes
Exoctenophorus
Mimocaryedon
Caryopemon
Diedobruchus
Protocaryopemon
Butiobruchus
Caryobruchus
Caryoborus
Pachymerus
Mesopachymerus

Rhaebini

Rhaebus

Myanmaropini

Myanmarops

2. Cassidinae

Acanthodes
Acentroptera
Acmenychus
Acritispa
Acrocassis
Acromis
Adalurnus
Aethiopocassis
Agathispa
Agenysa
Agoniella
Agonita
Agroiconota
Aidoia
Alurnus
Amblispa
Amythra
Anacassis
Andevocassis
Androya
Anepsiomorpha
Anisochalepus
Anisodera
Anisostena
Aporocassida
Aproida
Arescus
Asamangulia
Aslamidium
Aspidimorpha
Aspidispa
Asteriza
Aulostyrax
Austropsecadia
Baliosus
Balyana
Basiprionota
Basipta
Botanochara
Bothrispa
Bothryonopa
Brachycoryna
Bradycassis
Brontispa
Bruchia
Bulolispa
Calamispa
Caledonispa
Callanispa
Calliaspis
Callispa
Callistola
Callohispa
Calyptocephala
Canistra
Capelocassis
Carinispa
Carlobruchia
Cassida
Cassidinoma
Cassidispa
Cassidopsis
Cephaloleia
Ceratispa
Chacocassis
Chaeridiona
Chalepispa
Chalepotatus
Chalepus
Charidotella
Charidotis
Charistena
Chelobasis
Chelymorpha
Chelysida
Chersinellina
Chiridopsis
Chiridula
Chlamydocassis
Chrysispa
Cirrispa
Cistudinella
Cladispa
Clinocarispa
Cnetispa
Coelaenomenodera
Conchyloctenia
Coptocycla
Coraliomela
Corynispa
Crambelea
Craspedonispa
Craspedonta
Cryptonychus
Cteisella
Ctenocassida
Ctenocharidotis
Ctenophilaspis
Cubispa
Cyclocassis
Cyclosoma
Cyperispa
Cyrtonota
Dactylispa
Decatelia
Delocrania
Deloyala
Demotispa
Dicladispa
Discomorpha
Dorcathispa
Dorynota
Downesia
Drepanocassis
Drescheria
Echoma
Elytrogona
Emdenia
Enagria
Enischnispa
Epistictina
Erbolaspis
Eremionycha
Erepsocassis
Estigmena
Eugenysa
Euprionota
Eurispa
Eurypedus
Eurypepla
Eutheria
Euxema
Exestastica
Exothispa
Floridocassis
Fornicocassis
Fossispa
Gestronella
Glyphocassis
Glyphuroplata
Goniochenia
Gonophora
Goyachalepus
Gratiana
Gyllenhaleus
Hemisphaerota
Heptachispa
Heptatomispa
Heptispa
Herissa
Herminella
Heterispa
Heteronychocassis
Heterrhachispa
Hilarocassis
Hispa
Hispellinus
Hispodonta
Hispoleptis
Homalispa
Hovacassis
Hybosa
Hybosinota
Hybosispa
Hypocassida
Imatidium
Ischiocassis
Ischnispa
Ischnocodia
Ischyronota
Isopedhispa
Jambhala
Javeta
Jonthonota
Klitispa
Laccoptera
Lasiochila
Leptispa
Leptocodia
Leucispa
Limnocassis
Lorentzocassis
Macrispa
Macromonycha
Mahatsinia
Malayocassis
Mecistomela
Megapyga
Melanispa
Meroscalsis
Mesomphalia
Metazycera
Metriona
Metrionella
Metriopepla
Mexicaspis
Micrispa
Microctenochira
Microrhopala
Mimoethispa
Miocalaspis
Monagonia
Nabathaea
Nanocthispa
Nebraspis
Nesohispa
Nilgiraspis
Nonispa
Notosacantha
Nuzonia
Nympharescus
Ocnosispa
Octhispa
Octocladiscus
Octodonta
Octotoma
Octuroplata
Odontispa
Odontota
Oediopalpa
Ogdoecosta
Omaspides
Omocerus
Omoteina
Oncocephala
Oocassida
Opacinota
Orexita
Orobiocassis
Ovotispa
Oxycephala
Oxychalepus
Oxylepus
Oxyroplata
Palmispa
Parachirida
Paranota
Paraselenis
Paratrikona
Parimatidium
Parorectis
Parvispa
Pentispa
Peronycha
Pharangispa
Phidodontina
Philodonta
Physocoryna
Physonota
Phytodectoidea
Pilemostoma
Pistosia
Plagiometriona
Platocthispa
Platyauchenia
Platycycla
Platypria
Plesispa
Pleurispa
Poecilaspidella
Polychalca
Polychalma
Polyconia
Prionispa
Probaenia
Promecispa
Promecotheca
Prosopodonta
Psalidoma
Pseudandroya
Pseudispa
Pseudispella
Pseudocalaspidea
Pseudocallispa
Pseudoctenochira
Pseudostilpnaspis
Rhabdotohispa
Rhacocassis
Rhadinosa
Rhoia
Rhoptrispa
Rhytidocassis
Saulaspis
Scaeocassis
Sceloenopla
Seminabathea
Serratispa
Silana
Sinispa
Smeringaspis
Solenispa
Spaethaspis
Spaethiella
Spaethispa
Sphenocassis
Spilophora
Squamispa
Stenispa
Stenopodius
Stephanispa
Sternocthispa
Sternoplispa
Sternostena
Sternostenoides
Stethispa
Stilpnaspis
Stoiba
Stolas
Strongylocassis
Sumitrosis
Syngambria
Tapinaspis
Tegocassis
Temnochalepus
Temnocthispa
Teretrispa
Terpsis
Tetracassis
Thlaspida
Thlaspidosoma
Thlaspidula
Thomispa
Thoracispa
Torquispa
Trichaspis
Trichispa
Trigonocassis
Trilaccodea
Unguispa
Uroplata
Vietocassis
Wallacispa
Xenarescus
Xenicomorpha
Xenochalepus
Xiphispa
Zatrephina
Zeugonota

3. Chrysomelinae

Agasta
Alfius
Calligrapha
Calomela
Cecchiniola
Chalcolampra
Chrysomela
Chrysolina
Colaphellus
Colaspidema
Crosita
Cyrtonastes
Cyrtonus
Dicranosterna
Doryphora
Entomoscelis
Gastrophysa
Geomela
Gonioctena
Hydrothassa
Labidomera
Lamprolina
Leptinotarsa
Linaedea
Machomena
Microtheca
Oomela
Oreina
Paleophaedon
Paropsides
Paropsis
Paropsisterna
Peltoschema
Phaedon
Phratora
Phola
Plagiodera
Prasocuris
Promechus
Proseicela
Rhaebosterna
Sclerophaedon
Smaragdina
Stenaspidiotus
Timarcha
Timarchida
Trachymela
Zira
Zygogramma

4. Criocerinae

Criocerini

Crioceris
Lilioceris

Lemini

Lema
Neolema
Oulema

5. Cryptocephalinae

Clytrini

Anomoea
Babia
Cheilotoma
Chilotomina
Clytra
Coleorozena
Coleothorpa
Coptocephala
Coscinoptera
Labidostomis
Lachnaia
Macrolenes
Megalostomis
Melitonoma
Otiocephala
Otiothraea
Saxinis
Smaragdina
Tituboea
Urodera
Cryptocephalini
Aporocera
Bassareus
Cadmus
Cryptocephalus
Diachus
Griburius
Lexiphanes
Pachybrachis
Triachus
Fulcidacini
Chlamisus
Diplacaspis
Exema
Poropleura
Melitochlamys
Neochlamisus
Pseudochlamys

6. Donaciinae

Donacia
Donaciella
Macroplea
Neohaemonia
Plateumaris
Poecilocera

7. Eumolpinae

Bromiini

Acrothinium
Andosia
Anidania
Aoria
Aoriopsis
Apolepis
Aulexis
Brevicolaspis
Bromius
Callipta
Caspiana
Cellomius
Chalcosicya
Colaspidea
Colaspina
Cryocolaspis
Damasus
Damelia
Demotina
Dermestops
Eboo
Eka
Endroedymolpus
Enneaoria
Erythraella
Eryxia
Fidia
Goniopleura
Hemiplatys
Heterotrichus
Hyperaxis
Irenes
Lahejia
Lepina
Macetes
Macrocoma
Malegia
Mecistes
Mesocolaspis
Neocles
Neocloides
Neofidia
Osnaparis
Pachnephoptrus
Pachnephorus
Parademotina
Parheminodes
Parnops
Phortus
Piomera
Profidia
Pseudaoria
Pseudocolaspis
Pseudolepis
Pseudometaxis
Pseudoxanthus
Rhodopaea
Semmiona
Scelodonta
Stasimus
Tanybria
Thootes
Trichochalcea
Trichochrysea
Trichotheca
Trichoxantha
Xanthonia
Xanthophorus

Caryonodini

Caryonoda

Cubispini

Cubispa
Lobispa

Eumolpini

Abiromorphus
Abirus
Acolaspoides
Acronymolpus
Adorea
Aemnestus
Agbalus
Agetinus
Agrianes
Agrosterna
Ajubus
Alethaxius
Alittus
Allocolaspis
Anachalcoplacis
Anchieta
Antitypona
Apterodina
Argoa
Aristonoda
Arnobiopsis
Arsoa
Atrichatus
Aulacia
Auranius
Australotymnes
Balya
Beltia
Brachypnoea
Callicolaspis
Caudatomolpus
Cazeresia
Chalcophana
Chalcophyma
Chalcoplacis
Chrysochares
Chrysochus
Chrysodinopsis
Chrysolampra
Cleptor
Clisithera
Colaspedusa
Colaspinella
Colaspis
Colaspoides
Corumbaea
Corysthea
Costalimaita
Coytiera
Cudnellia
Dematochroma
Dematotrichus
Dermorhytis
Deuteronoda
Dorysternoides
Drakhshandus
Dryadomolpus
Dumbea
Durangoita
Edusella
Edusoides
Endocephalus
Endoschyrus
Entomochirus
Epiphyma
Erotenia
Eucampylochira
Eucolaspinus
Eucolaspis
Eumolpus
Eupetale
Euphrytus
Eurysarcus
Exochognathus
Fractipes
Frenais
Freudeita
Freycolaspis
Geloptera
Glyptoscelis
Glyptosceloides
Guyanica
Heminodes
Hermesia
Hermesilla
Hylax
Hypoderes
Iphimeis
Iphimoides
Iphimolpus
Ischyrolampra
Ischyrolamprina
Isolepronota
Itatiaya
Kumatoeides
Lamprosphaerus
Ledesmodina
Lepinaria
Leprocolaspis
Lepronida
Lepronota
Llanomolpus
Longeumolpus
Lyraletes
Marajoarinha
Massiea
Megalocolaspoides
Melinodea
Metaparia
Metaxyonycha
Microaletes
Monrosiella
Montrouzierella
Murimolpus
Myochrous
Neoiphimeis
Neovianaeta
Nodocolaspis
Noriaia
Nycterodina
Ocnida
Olorus
Otilea
†Paleomolpus
Peniticus
Percolaspis
Phanaeta
Pilacolaspis
Plastonothus
Platycorynus
Plaumannita
Podoxenus
Prionodera
Prionoderita
Promecosoma
Pseudabirus
Pseudedusia
Pseudochoris
Pseudocolaspoides
Pygocolaspis
Rhabdopterus
Rhinobolus
Ruffoita
Samuelsonia
Schizonoda
Sibotes
Sphaeropis
Spintherophyta
Stereonoda
Sterneurus
Sternocolaspis
Stylomolpus
Susteraia
Taimbezinhia
Talurus
Taophila
Tectaletes
Thasycles
Theocolaspis
Therses
Thyra
Thysanomeros
Trichocolaspis
Tricholapita
Tymnes
Tyrannomolpus
Vianaeta
Vieteumolpus
Wittmerita
Xanthopachys
Zenocolaspis

Euryopini

Bechyneia
Cheiridella
Colasposoma
Eumolpopsis
Euryope
Lefevrea
Lucignolo
Melindea
Microhermesia
Obelistes
Odontiomorpha
Odontionopa
Paracrothinium
Pathius
Phascus
Platycornia
Taphioporus
Thysbina
Timentes
Trichostola

Habrophorini

Habrophora
Psathyrocerus

Hemydacnini

Hemydacne
Colasita

Megascelidini

Megascelis
Mariamela

Merodini

Meroda

Pygomolpini

Pygomolpus

Rosiroiini

Rosiroia

Typophorini

Afroeurydemus
Amblynetes
Aphilenia
Atomyria
Basilepta
Bedelia
Callisina
Cheiridea
Chloropterus
Chrysonopa
Chrysopida
Cleoparida
Cleoporus
Cleorina
Clypeolaria
Coniomma
Deretrichia
Edistus
Entreriosa
Epinodostoma
Eurydemus
Gaberella
Graphops
Gressittana
Gressittella
Iviva
Jansonius
Keeta
Labasa
Lindinia
Mandollia
Medvedemolpus
Meniellus
Menius
Metachroma
Microeurydemus
Micromolpus
Microsyagrus
Mireditha
Mouhotina
Nakanaia
Nodina
Nodostella
Pagellia
Pagria
Paraivongius
Parascela
Paria
Periparia
Phaedroides
Phainodina
Phytoparia
Phytorellus
Phytorus
Proliniscus
Pseudivongius
Pseudolpus
Pseudostonopa
Rhembastus
Rhynchomolpus
Rhyparida
Rhyparidella
Sarum
Sedlacekia
Selmania
Stethotes
Stizomolpus
Stygnobia
Syagrus
Thyrasia
Tijucana
Tricliona
Tricliophora
Typophorus
Vitibia
Zohrana

8. Galerucinae

Acalymma
Agelastica
Aplosonyx
Arima
Asbecesta
Aulacophora
Belarima
Calomicrus
Cneorane
Diorhabda
Diabrotica
Euluperus
Exosoma
Falsoexosoma
Galeruca
Galerucella
Leptomona
Lochmaea
Longitarsus
Luperus
Marseulia
Menippus
Monolepta
Normaltica
Nymphius
Oides
Phyllobrotica
Poneridia
Psylliodes
Pyrrhalta
Sermylassa
Theone
Trirhabda
Xanthogaleruca
Yingaresca

9. Lamprosomatinae

Cachiporrini

Cachiporra

Lamprosomatini

Archelamprosomius
Asisia
Damzenius
Dorisina
Lamprosoma
Lamprosomoides
Lychnophaes
Oomorphoides
Oomorphus
Oyarzuna
Scrophoomorphus
Succinoomorphus
Xenoomorphus

Neochlamysini

Neochlamys
Pseudolychnophaes

Sphaerocharini

Sphaerocharis

10. Sagrinae

Ametalla
Atalasis
Carpophagus
Coolgardica
Diaphanops
Duboulaia
Mecynodera
Megamerus
Neodiaphanops
Polyoptilus
Prionesthis
Pseudotoxotus
Sagra
Eosagra
Gallopsis
Palaeatalasis
Pulchritudo

11. Spilopyrinae

Allsortsia
Bohumiljania
Cheiloxena
Dorymolpus
Hornius
Macrolema
Richmondia
Spilopyra
Stenomela

12. Synetinae

Syneta
Thricolema

Physical Description and Identification

Adult

Size: 0.0393-0.71 in (0.1-1.8 cm), with some reaching lengths of 1.4 in.

Color: They are shiny, with various colors like blue, coppery, golden, or green.

Other Characteristic Features: The beetles of this family are round and domed, with antennae half the length of their body and shell-like elytra covering their abdomen.

Larva

The larvae vary greatly in appearance depending on the species. For instance, Colorado potato beetle larvae are thick-bodied, while several tortoise beetles have spines running along their bodies. They go through several instars for around 21 days.

Pupa

Pupation occurs inside a cocoon on the underside of the leaves of the host plant.

Egg

Females lay orange or yellow eggs on the leaves of a preferred host plant.

Quick Facts

Lifespan	5 – 14 days
Distribution	Tropics
Habitat	Varied
Predators	Bugs, earwigs, ground beetles, and lacewing larva
Seasons active	May to July
Host plants	Clover, cottonweed, cucumber, green beans, milkweed, pumpkins, and soybeans
Diet of adults	Flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, and stems of any suitable plant