Home | Contact Us | Department of
Entomology | Research | Insect Collection
Identification
guide to the Leaf Beetles of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Edward
G. Riley This identification guide includes many species that are not formally recorded from GSMNP but may be found there. Species preceded by an asterisk "*" are confirmed for park. Shortcuts: Go directly to Criocerinae, couplet 10
|
| 1a Prothorax
with raised marginal bead or sharp ridge extending for entire or nearly
entire length [HELP] ... Family Chrysomelidae (large part) …
11 1b Prothorax lacking marginal
bead or ridge, or if present, weak and only evident near base [HELP]
... 2 2a Dorsum largely
hairy or scaly ... 3 2b Dorsum not conspicuously
hairy or scaly … 8 3a Usually small compact beetle
with hind femur enlarged; prothorax tapered towards anterior margin;
head tucked partially below anterior margin of prothorax … Family Chrysomelidae,
Subfamily Bruchinae Acanthoscelides spp. 3b Larger, non-compact beetle
with hind femur not enlarged; prothorax subcylindrical, not especially
tapered toward anterior margin; head exposed, not tucked below anterior
margin of thorax … 4 4a Prothorax strongly angled
at middle; general body form elongate and parallel sided, resembling
members of the family Cleridae …Family Megalopodidae, Subfamily
Zeugophorinae Zeugophora
scutellaris 4b Prothorax not or only weakly
angled at middle (but may have small teeth); body form of beetle shorter
and broader, not resembling members of the family Cleridae …. Family
Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Eumolpinae (small part) … 5 5a Middle and hind tibia with
distal outer margin excavated and usually with a stiff brush of setae
[HELP]; body dark metallic with whitish hairs Graphops curtipennis 5b Middle and hind tibia not
modified as above; body usually not metallic … 6 6a Prothorax with short row
of teeth on lateral margin *Demotina modesta 6b Prothorax without teeth on
lateral margin … 7 7a Prothorax cylindrical, weakly
punctate with simple punctures; anterior and posterior femur without
ventral tooth Bromius obscurus 7b Prothorax depressed, subcylindrical,
distinctly punctate with large ocellate punctures; anterior and posterior
femur with minute ventral tooth Xanthonia angulata 8a (from
2) Head with frontal area flat and smooth, without X-shaped
groove Elytra without
elevated ridges, punctation confused … Family Orsodacnidae *Orsodacne
atra Elytra with
raised ridges, punctures in rows … Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily
Eumolpinae, Tribe Synetini *Syneta
extorris 8b Head with
X-shaped groove on frontal area … 9 9a Hind femur with one or more
ventral teeth …Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Donaciinae Inner edge
of apical portion of elytral suture exposed Plateumaris fulvipes Inner edge
of apical portion of elytral suture concealed Donacia biimpressa 9b Hind femur without ventral
tooth …Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Criocerinae … 10 10a Prothorax
with distinct median constriction; claws of each tarsus fused together
at base, subparallel Elytral uniformly
dark Oulema collaris Elytral pale
with dark stripes Lema daturaphila Elytral dark
with broad pale band Lema solani Elytral red
with black spots *Neolema
cordata 10b Prothorax weakly constricted
near base; claws of each tarsus not obviously fused at base, divergent Crioceris asparagi 11a (from 1) Body form cylindrical, somewhat barrel-shaped and generally
compact; face and pygidium subvertical to vertical [HELP] …12 11b Body form generally depressed,
not especially cylindrical or compact; face and pygidium not vertical
… 19 12a Compact, rough-backed
beetle with legs and antennae fitting neatly into grooves and pockets
on ventral surface of body; suture of elytra serrate, zipper-like …
Subfamily Cryptocephalinae, Tribe Chlamisini Smaller beetle,
mostly black, non-metallic Chlamisus foveolatus Larger beetle,
coppery, bronze or metallic brownish Neochlamisus assimilis 12b Not rough-backed (but often
deeply punctured), legs and antennae not fitting into grooves and pockets
on ventral surface of body … 13 13a Antenna shorter,
not reaching postero-lateral angle of pronotum, and with several distal
segments weakly to distinctly serrate (saw-like)… Subfamily, Cryptocephalinae,
Tribe Clytrini … 18 13b Antenna longer, nearly reaching
to surpassing postero-lateral angle of pronotum, and filiform (thread-like)
or with several distal segments slightly enlarged … 14 14a Base of pronotum with distinct
bead-like margin [HELP] A. Anterior
femur not enlarged, equal in size to middle femur Pachybrachis hepaticus AA. Anterior
femur enlarged, notably larger than middle femur B. Dorsum
hairy Pachybrachis morosus BB. Dorsum
without hairs C. Elytron
with pale or dark stripes Pachybrachis bivittatus CC. Elytron
without stripes D. Large robust
beetle, length greater than 4.7 mm, with punctation of pronotum sparse Griburius scutellaris DD. Smaller
and less robust beetle, length less than 4.7 mm, with punctation of
pronotum dense Elytra mostly
black or black with sharp, well-defined pattern of paler markings Pachybrachis luctuosus Elytra mostly
brown, yellow or reddish, usually with poorly defined markings, or black
to near black with sparse pale flecks Pachybrachis atomarius 14b Base of pronotum not margined
[HELP]… 15 15a Larger species, length greater
than 2.5 mm … 16 15b Smaller species,
length less than 2.5 mm … 17 16a Entirely dark metallic in color,
usually dark bluish metallic, prosternum nearly as wide as long, each
tarsal claw with broad basal tooth Lexiphanes affinis 16b Color variable but not entirely
dark bluish metallic, prosternum narrower than long, each tarsal claw
without basal tooth A. Punctation
at apex of elytra deep and confused Cryptocephalus schreibersii AA. Punctation
at apex of elytra deep to shallow, not confused
B. Pronotum
with longitudinal stripes Cryptocephalus leucomelas BB. Pronotum
without longitudinal stripes Elytron entirely
dark Cryptocephalus
nanus Elytron black
with red spot or spots *Bassareus mammifer Elytron black
with orange lateral stripe Bassareus
lituratus Elytron brownish
with pale spots Bassaerus brunnipes Elytron pale
with darker stripes Cryptocephalus calidus Elytron pale
yellowish with irregular dark markings Cryptocephalus
mutabilis 17a (from
15) Elytron
dark metallic *Diachus auratus 17b Elytron black to pale brownish,
non-metallic Triachus atomus 18a (from 13) Prothorax conspicuously hairy Coleothorpa aenescens 18b Prothorax not hairy Elytron dark
with red humeral spot Saxinis
omogera Elytron pale
yellowish or mostly pale yellowish Anomoea
flavokansiensis 19a (from 11) Margins of both elytra and pronotum expanded, most
of head and legs not visible from dorsal view … Subfamily Cassidinae
– the tortoise beetles … 20 19b Margins of elytra and pronotum
not both expanded, margins of pronotum may be somewhat expanded but
then not covering legs and most of head … 22 20a Head not completely
covered by pronotum, narrowly visible from above; dorsum red with dark
spots on elytra Chelymorpha
cassidea 20b Head completely covered by
pronotum, not visible from above; color variable … 21 21a Large species, length greater
than 8 mm; pronotum pale with one or three small black spots *Physonota helianthi 21b Smaller species, length usually
less than 8 mm; pronotum not as above A. Dark coloration
of elytral disc extended on expanded margin of elytra Elytral surface
smooth, pale *Charidotella
purpurata Elytral surface
smooth, mostly black or usually black with irregular yellow patches *Deloyala
guttata Elytral surface
rough and uneven, dark brownish *Plagiometriona
clavata clavata AA. Expanded
margins of elytra entirely pale Disc of elytra
dark with pale stripes Agroiconota
bivittata Disc of elytra
entirely pale, yellow to greenish Gratiana
pallidula Disc of elytra
pale yellowish to reddish and with small black spots *Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor 22a (from 19) Insertion points of antennae fairly close together,
high on face at a point approximately level to middle of eyes … 23 22b Insertion points of antennae
far apart, separated by most the width of the face, low on face at point
approximately level with lower margins of eyes … 28 23a Mouthparts
positioned below and at the back of head, not projecting, usually partially
covered by the front margin of the prosternum; antennae stiff and generally
projected forward … Subfamily Cassidinae – the hispines … 24 23b Mouthparts positioned at end
of head, generally projecting, not covered partially by front margin
of prosternum; antennae more flexible, projecting in various directions
… Subfamily Galerucinae … 41 24a Elytra relatively
smooth and with rows of fine punctures; color black without markings Stenispa
metallica 24b Elytra coarsely punctate, punctures
in rows or not … 25 25a Antenna composed of 11 distinct
segments, not or weakly clubbed … 26 25b Antenna apparently composed
of 8 segments, the distal joints fused to form a weak to distinct club Elytra brownish
with vague darker spots Brachycoryna
pumila Elytra dark
with pale stripes Elytra entirely
dark Glyphuroplata pluto 26a Middle of each elytron with
10 rows of punctures Elytra black
with humeral areas orange *Odontota mundula Elytra red
or orange with sutural area black *Odontota dorsalis Elytra orange
with darker brownish to reddish pattern *Baliosus
nervosus 26b Middle of each elytron with
8 rows of punctures … 27 27a Elytra entirely dark and pronotum
mostly red Anisostena ariadne 27b Elytra and pronotum of same
colors Elytra uniformly
black to dark metallic bluish Anisostena
nigrita Elytra light
or dark brownish with variable blackish, brownish or reddish patterns *Sumitrosis inaequalis 28a (from 22) Third tarsal segment not deeply lobed [HELP] … Subfamily
Chrysomelinae … 29 28b Third tarsal segment deeply
lobed [HELP] … Subfamily Eumolpinae (large part) … 34 29a Dorsum dark
without color pattern Punctures
of elytron confused, not ranged in rows *Gastrophysa cyanea Punctures
of elytron arranged in rows Chrysolina cribraria 29b Dorsum with color pattern …
30 30a Elytra dark with narrow reddish
border Microtheca
ochroloma 30b Elytra not as above … 31 31a Elytra with one or more complete
stripes A. Low flattened
species, small and parallel-sided *Prasocuris
vittata AA. High convex
species, larger and rounded Larger beetle,
length more than 7 mm, dark stripes black *Leptinotarsa decemlineata Smaller beetle,
length less than 6.5 mm, dark stripes brown *Calligrapha bidenticola 31b Elytral with spots or irregular
pattern … 32 32a Pronotum with sides longitudinally
impressed or grooved [HELP] Elytral color
orange, red or pinkish with a pattern of irregular black bands *Chrysomela interrupta Elytral color
yellowish with broken darker stripes *Chrysomela scripta 32b Sides of pronotum not impressed
… 33 33a Legs black Labidomera
clivicollis 33b Legs pale *Calligrapha ignota 34a (from
28) Middle and hind tibia with distal outer margin excavated
and usually with a stiff brush of setae [HELP] … 35 34b Middle and hind tibia not modified
as above … 37 35a Larger beetle, length greater
than 6.5mm, metallic green or bluish in color *Typophorus
nigritus viridicyaneus 35b Smaller beetle, not metallic
… 36 36a Side of prothorax with strongly
expanded lobe that is directed forward and partially covers head and
mouthparts [HELP] *Paria fragariae 36b Side of prothorax without forward-directed
lobe that partially covers head and mouthparts [HELP] Metachroma laevicolle 37a (from 34) Dorsum hairy or scaly Glyptoscelis barbata 37b Dorsum not hairy or scaly …
38 38a Large metallic green species,
length greater than 10 mm, elytra smooth and polished without large
punctures 38b Smaller species, length less
than 4 mm, if metallic green then elytra with deep coarse punctures
… 39 39a Antennae with distal segments
distinctly shorter and thicker than preceding segments; body robust
and compact, dark shiny metallic Side of prothorax
with expanded lobe that is directed forward and partially covers head
and mouthparts [HELP] *Spintherophyta
globosa Side of prothorax
without forward-directed lobe that partially covers head and mouthparts
[HELP] *Brachypnoea clypealis 39b Antennae with distal segments
only slightly shorter and thicker than preceding segments, body less
robust, may or may not be metallic … 40a 40a Elytra of one dark color, without
raised longitudinal ridges and rows of punctures Rhabdopterus picipes 40b Elytra brownish or brownish
overlain with greenish reflection, with raised longitudinal ridges and
rows of punctures *Colaspis brunnea 41a (from 23) Hind leg with femur enlarged for jumping [HELP] …
Subfamily Galerucinae, Tribe Alticini … 42 41b Hind leg with femur narrow,
not modified for jumping … 65 42a Claw segment
of hind tarsus greatly swollen … 43 42b Claw segment of hind tarsus
normal … 46 43a Punctures of elytra arranged
in rows … 44 43b Punctures of elytra confused,
not formed into rows … 45 44a Dorsum hairy Distigmoptera apicalis 44b Dorsum without hairs Pachyonychus
paradoxus 45a (from
43) Pronotum
narrow, as long as broad Pachyonyhchis
paradoxus 45b Pronotum broad, distinctly
wider than long A. Body generally
smaller, depressed; margins of elytra and pronotum more strongly explanate Capraita circumdata AA. Body generally
larger, more robust; margins of elytra and pronotum less expanded B. Elytra
with stripes Kuschelina fallax BB. Elytral
without stripes Elytra black Kuschelina concinna Elytra pale
with slightly darker sutural area *Kuschelina
suturella Elytra entirely
metallic blue or green *Kuschelina
gibbitarsa Elytra metallic
blue or green with pale margin under humeri Kuschelina
thoracica 46a (from 42) Antenna with only 10 segments Psylliodes convexior 46b Antenna with 11 segments …
47 47a Spur of hind tibia broad at
apex and bifurcate [HELP] *Dibolia borealis 47b Spur of hind tibia narrow at
apex, with a single point … 48 48a Hind tibia
with angular dilation or tooth on outer margin before apex [HELP]… 49 48b Hind tibia with outer margin
before apex without modification [HELP] … 50 49a Large species, length greater
than 4.0 mm; elytron pale with irregular brownish pattern *Blepharida
rhois 49b Small species, length less
than 2.5 mm; elytra of one uniform color A. Hind tibia
with series of irregular teeth above angular tooth; body shiny black,
not metallic [HELP] Pseudodibolia
opima AA. Hind tibia
without series of teeth above angular tooth; body shiny or dull, usually
with distinct metallic reflection [HELP] B. Head with
median area of vertex with distinct punctures [HELP] Punctures
of elytral base confused Chaetocnema
irregularis Punctures
of elytral base in regular rows *Chaetocnema denticulata BB. Head with
median area of vertex without punctures Chaetocnema
alutacea 50a (from 48) Pronotum before base with lateral furrow on each side
and/or distinct transverse impression [HELP] … 51 50b Pronotum before base without
lateral furrows or transverse impression … 58 51a Elytra with
punctures in rows … 52 51b Elytra with punctures confused
… 57 52a Hind margin of pronotum weakly
sinuate on each side [HELP] … 53 52b Hind margin of pronotum straight
… 56 53a Dorsal surface conspicuously
hairy Color black
or nearly black *Epitrix brevis Color brownish *Epitrix hirtipennis 53b Dorsal surface without conspicuous
hairs … 54 54a Pronotum without transverse
impression before base (only longitudinal furrow on each side) Mantura
floridana 54b Pronotum with transverse impression
before base in addition to short longitudinal furrow on each side Pronotum red,
elytral blackish Hornaltica
bicolor Pronotum and
elytra of one color *Acallepitrix nitens 55a Lateral margin of pronotum
with series of small teeth *Orthaltica
copalina 55b Lateral margin of pronotum
without series of small teeth … 56 56a Pronotum red, elytra metallic *Derocrepis erythropus 56b Pronotum matching color of
elytra Dorsal color
brownish overlain with greenish metallic reflection *Crepidodera longula Dorsal coloration
entirely metallic *Crepidodera browni 57a (from 51) Pronotum metallic Altica aeneola 57b Pronotum yellow to orange Elytral yellow
to orange, same color as pronotum Elytra metallic
blue *Parchicola
iris 58a (from 50) Punctures of elytra arranged in rows Cerataltica insolita 58b Punctures of elytra confused
… 59 59a First segment of hind tarsus
at least half as long as hind tibia Color or dorsum
very dark brown to blackish Longitarsus melanurus Color of dorsum
medium brown to yellowish or reddish brown *Longitarsus pratensis 59b First segment of hind tarsus
less than half as long as tibia … 60 60a Small species, length less
than 3.0 mm A. Elytra
metallic, pronotum reddish *Lupraea
picta AA. Elytral
black with pale markings, pronotum black Pale markings
of elytra are spots Phyllotreta bipustulata Pale markings
of elytra are stripes Phyllotreta liebecki 60b Large species, length greater
than 3.0 mm … 61 61a Body elongate
and depressed … 62 61b Body broad and robust … 63 62a Hind femur weakly enlarged,
face with strong groove above eye [HELP] Elytra brownish
or blackish without metallic reflection *Luperaltica
nigripalpis Elytra dark
with metallic reflection Luperaltica
senilis 62b Hind femur strongly enlarged,
face without groove above eye [HELP] Elytra entirely
black *Systena frontalis Elytra yellowish
without pale stripe *Systena
marginalis Elytra blackish
to yellowish, each with pale stripe *Systena blanda 63a (from 61) Pronotum and elytra of uniform red color *Strabala
rufa 63b Pronotum and elytra not of
one uniform color … 64 64a Elytra with stripes Extreme lateral
margins of elytra black *Disonycha
glabrata Extreme lateral
margins of elytra pale Disonycha alternata 64b Elytra without stripes A. Elytra
orange-red with large, common black spot *Disonycha
discoidea (large part) AA. Elytra
uniformly dark Pronotum pale
without dark spots Disonycha collata Pronotum pale
with small dark spots Disonycha
triangularis 65a (from
41) Dorsal surface conspicuously hairy … Subfamily Galerucinae,
Tribe Galerucini (large part) … 66 65b Dorsal surface without conspicuous
hairs … 68 66a Large species, length greater
than 6.7 mm; elytra with uniform well-defined stripes Derospidea brevicollis 66b Smaller species, length less
than 6.5 mm, with or without stripes … 67 67a Elytra brownish with black
to brownish stripes that may be distinct and complete ranging to faint
or abbreviated Ophraella americana 67b Elytra not as above A. Pronotum
with dark spots Pronotum with
three dark spots; elytra yellowish brown, each with an incomplete dark
submarginal stripe and dark basal spot *Xanthogaleruca
luteola Pronotum with
impressed dark spot on each side; elytra dark with a narrow pale border
or dark with vague pale median stripe Galerucella
nymphaeae AA. Pronotum
without dark spots Elytra pale
brownish without stripes, densely hairy and finely punctate Tricholochmaea
tuberculata Elytra reddish
without stripes, sparsely hairy and coarsely punctate Tricholochmaea cavicollis 68a (from 65) Larger species, length greater than 10 mm Monocesta
coryli 68b Smaller species, length less
than 7 mm … 69 69a Elytra uniformly of one dark
color, usually metallic bluish Pronotum and
elytra dark metallic Scelolyperus bimarginatus Pronotum entirely
reddish or black with a large reddish spot *Phyllecthris
dorsalis 69b Elytra not uniformly dark …
70 70a Tarsal claws
bifid [HELP] … 71 70b Tarsal claws each with broadly
angular tooth [HELP] … 73 71a Elytra surface without longitudinal
impressions or raised ridges Elytra yellowish
to greenish with round black spots; punctures fine *Diabrotica
undecimpunctata howardi Elytra yellowish
brown without round black spots; punctures coarse Ophraella
cribrata 71b Elytra surface with longitudinal
impressions and raised ridges … 72 72a Elytra black and yellow striped Acalymma vinctum 72b Elytra without distinct stripes Diabrotica barberi 73a (from 70) Elytron pale with a very broad dark median stripe,
body subparallel-sided Pronotum
entirely pale Phyllobrotica antennata Pronotum
pale with dark lateral areas Phyllecthris
gentilis 73b Elytron yellow or reddish,
usually with a fragmented black pattern or sometimes nearly entirely
pale; body robust, sides rounded *Ceratoma
trifurcata |
Home | Contact Us | Department of
Entomology | Research | Insect Collection
|
|
Texas A&M University
• Department of Entomology • 412 Heep Center, TAMU 2475 •
College Station, TX 77843-2475 • 979.845.2516 |
|
