Leaf beetle
Leaf beetle | ||||||||||||
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Leaf beetle |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Chrysomelidae | ||||||||||||
Latreille , 1802 |
The leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) form with around 50,000 currently described, most popular types a large family among the beetles . There are over 470 species in Germany alone. As herbivores , leaf beetles are often harmful, e.g. B. Colorado beetles , fleas , asparagus beetles , poplar leaf beetles or alder leaf beetles .
Burrow of leaf beetles
The adults of the leaf beetles are small to medium-sized, that is, their body size is between 1 and 18 millimeters. They usually have a curved, egg-shaped body and are often metallic or brightly colored. The head is rounded (without a trunk). The antennae are usually shorter, i.e. a maximum of half as long as the torso. The second antennae is of normal size (in contrast to the longhorn beetles that are closely related to them ). The antennae are more or less uniform, at most towards the tip they can gradually thicken. The first sensor element is, however, usually stronger than the following sensor elements. The eyes are also mostly round. The pronotum is rounded differently and only rarely bulges. The first three sternites are not fused, instead there are continuous separation seams. All leaf beetles have wings. The wings are seldom shortened and only leave the last tergite (pygidium) free. The splints ( tibia ) have at most one terminal mandrel, which is mostly drawn into the pronotum up to the eyes. The foot formula is apparently four-limbed, with a broad-lobed third limb. Most often leaf beetles are bald.
The larvae are elongated-cylindrical, often with warts or appendages.
Way of life
The adults mostly feed on leaves which they gnaw, skeletonize or perforate. The genus Oreina is widespread from montane to alpine, is relatively large (adults about 1 cm) and extremely colorful. Their colors shimmer like diamonds in the sunshine. Some species use the chrysomelidial named after the leaf beetles in their defense secretions .
Reproduction and larval development
The leaf beetles usually mate polygamously. The females lay their eggs one by one, in piles or in rows on their forage plants. The females of some genera, e.g. B. Phaedon , sink their eggs in gnawed holes or pits on leaves, stems and twigs. Females from other subfamilies, such as B. Clytrinae, Cassidinae and Cryptocephalinae, cover their eggs with a Kothülle ( Skatoconche ) to them from predators to protect. The Donaciinae form a special subfamily. These beetles live on aquatic plants both above and below the water . The eggs of the Donaciinae are wrapped in jelly and laid in rows on leaves above or below water. The larvae dig their heads into roots, stems or floating leaves and suck the sap in the process.
Subfamilies and species (selection)
- Seed beetle (Bruchinae Latreille , 1802)
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Shield beetle (Cassidinae Gyllenhall , 1813)
- Tribe Cassidini
- Green tortoise beetle ( Cassida viridis )
- Hispini tribe
- Black sting beetle ( Hispa atra )
- Tribe Cassidini
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Chrysomelinae Latreille , 1802
- Red border leaf beetle ( Chrysomela sanguinolenta )
- Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata )
- Poplar leaf beetle ( Melasoma populi )
- Sky blue leaf beetle ( Chrysolina coerulans )
- Magnificent leaf beetle ( Chrysolina fastuosa )
- Paw beetle ( Timarcha tenebricosa )
- Bluish violet paw beetle ( Timarcha goettingensis )
- Broad willow leaf beetle ( Plagiodera versicolora )
- Spotted willow leaf beetle ( Melasoma vigintipunctata )
- Variable willow leaf beetle ( Phytodecta viminalis )
- Blue willow leaf beetle ( Phratora vulgatissima )
- Knotweed leaf beetle ( Gastrophysa polygoni )
- Green sorrel beetle ( Gastrophysa viridula )
- Chrysolina sturmi
- Butterbur leaf beetle ( Oreina cacaliae )
- Gonioctena olivacea
-
Criocerinae Latreille , 1807
- Corn beetles , e.g. B. Red-necked corn beetle ( Oulema melanopus )
- Common asparagus chicken ( Crioceris asparagi )
- Twelve-point asparagus beetle ( Crioceris duodecimpunctata )
- Lily Chicken ( Lilioceris lilii )
- Lily of the valley chicken ( Lilioceris merdigera )
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Fall beetle (Cryptocephalinae Gyllenhall , 1813)
- Tribe Cryptocephalini
- Five-spot drop beetle ( Cryptocephalus quinquepunctatus )
- Banded Fall Beetle ( Cryptocephalus vittatus )
- Hieroglyphic tiger beetle ( Pachybrachys hieroglyphicus )
- Silky fall beetle or green-blue fall beetle ( Cryptocephalus sericeus )
- Tribe Clytrini
- Ant bag beetle ( Clytra laeviuscula )
- Labidostomis tridentata
- Tribe Fulcidacini (= Chlamidini)
- Tribe Cryptocephalini
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Donaciinae Kirby , 1837
- Donacia aquatica
- Reed beetle ( Donacia semicuprea )
- Macroplea pubipennis
- Silky reed beetle ( Plateumaris sericea )
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Eumolpinae C. G. Thomson , 1859
- Blue swallowweed beetle ( Chrysochus asclepiadeus )
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Galerucinae Latreille , 1802
- Tribe Galerucini
- Hairy willow leaf beetle ( Galerucella lineola )
- Lily pad beetle ( Galerucella nymphaeae )
- Tansy leaf beetle ( Galeruca tanaceti )
- Galeruca pomonae
- Brown-yellow willow leaf beetle ( Lochmaea capreae )
- Hawthorn leaf beetle ( Lochmaea crataegi )
- Dutch elm leaf beetle ( Xanthogaleruca luteola )
- Tribe Hylaspini
- Blue alder leaf beetle ( Agelastica alni )
- Tribe Luperini
- Western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera )
- Exosoma lusitanicum
- Black willow leaf beetle ( Luperus luperus )
- Skullcap leaf beetle ( Phyllobrotica quadrimaculata )
- Tribus flea beetle (Alticini)
- Genus earth fleas (Psylliodes)
- Great rapeseed flea ( Psylliodes chrysocephala )
- Wavy-striped coal flea ( Phyllotreta undulata )
- Spotted poison dart beetle ( Diamphidia nigroornata )
- Genus earth fleas (Psylliodes)
- Tribus Sermylini
- Tribe Galerucini
- Lamprosomatinae Lacordaire , 1848
- Sagrinae Leach , 1815
- Spilopyrinae Chapuis , 1874
- Synetinae LeConte & Horn , 1883
The Orsodacnidae and the Megalopodidae were recently spun off as a separate family. The Zeugophorinae are now a subfamily of the Megalopodidae.
literature
- Stresemann, Erwin (1994): "Excursion Fauna of Germany: Invertebrate Insects - Part One". Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena: 8th edition, ISBN 3-334-60823-9 .
- Schöller, Matthias (1996): “Ecology of Central European leaf beetles, seed beetles and weevils”. Self-published by EVCV, Bürs, ISBN 3-9500146-6-7 .