Beetles-leaf_beetles



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beetles    Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles               

 

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Leaf beetles in the garden   

Leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae).
There are many species of the family of leaf beetles. They usually have striking colours. They are almost all herbivores. And therefore often harmful.  

Flea beetle. Subfamily Alticinae. 
Many small leaf beetles are good jumpers. They are recognizable by the muscular hind legs. There are many species.

Alticinae, maybe an Aphtona or Longitarsus-speci. Family Chrysomelidae... Alticinae, maybe an Aphtona or Longitarsus-speci. Family Chrysomelidae.  Alticinae, maybe an Aphtona or Longitarsus-speci. Family Chrysomelidae.

Lots of flea beetles are from a photo unrecognizable. Length about 2 mm. Photos 11-10-2012. 
  

Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The first photo was taken in 2007, the left photo in 2008. Then this was an Asiorestia spec. Because they are very much similar to the Neocrepidodera species the name is changed into Neocrepidodera spec. In the Nederlands there are some similar species: Neocrepidodera ferruginea, Neocrepidodera motschulskii, Neocrepidodera transversa. They are shiny brown beetles, which may very well jump. Length 2 - 3 mm.
Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Photos 29-8-2012. 
 

Altica oleracea synonym Haltica oleracea. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Altica oleracea synonym Haltica oleracea. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Altica oleracea synonym Haltica oleracea. Subfamily Alticinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

It lives on the Evening Primrose. That's the difference with other blue flee beetles. It's also a good jumper. It damages the plant. But the plant will survive. Length 3 - 4 mm. Photos 1-4-2008. 
  


Subfamily Galerucinae. 

Longitarsus anchusae. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  .. Longitarsus anchusae. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  . Longitarsus anchusae. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.    Longitarsus anchusae. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  

This black flea beetle is found on plants from the borage family (Boraginaceae). Here he is on a leaf of a green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens). The lower part of the legs is yellow-brown, like the lower part of the antenna.
Length about 2, 3 - 2,5 mm. Photos 1-5-2015, 6-5-2015. 
  

Longitarsus dorsalis. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Longitarsus dorsalis. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Longitarsus dorsalis. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Longitarsus dorsalis. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The head, legs and the top of its carapace are black , the side is yellowish white. The pronotum is brown. 
It has several food plants. Especially groundsel and ragwort. The larvae develop in the roots of the host plant. The adult beetle overwinters. 
Length about 2 -3 mm. Western and Central Europe. Photos 13-11-2013.
  


Subfamily Halticinae. 

Sometimes you can find Chaetocnema in the subfamily Halticinae. Like in Coleonet.de. Sometimes in in the subfamily Galerucinae. Like in Bugguide.

Chaetocnema. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. I'm not quite sure!!.. Chaetocnema. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. I'm not quite sure!!. Chaetocnema. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. I'm not quite sure!!  Chaetocnema. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. I'm not quite sure!!

These very small beetles live on different grasses. Chaetocnema hortensis is one of the best known species. But there are about 20 in Europe, which are very similar.
Despite that they are so small, they are striking, because they are so shining in the sunlight. On the picture you can see, that the head and pronotum is also punctuated. Length about 2 mm. Photos 29-4-2013. 
   

Chaetocnema. Brassy flea beetle, Chaetocnema concinna or Chaetocnema picipes. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.   .. Chaetocnema. Brassy flea beetle, Chaetocnema concinna or Chaetocnema picipes. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.   . Chaetocnema. Brassy flea beetle, Chaetocnema concinna or Chaetocnema picipes. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.     Chaetocnema Brassy flea beetle, Chaetocnema concinna or Chaetocnema picipes. Subfamily Halticinae / Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.   

A Chaetocnema species has an undented pronotum and regular puntuated rows on the elytra. The two bronze-coloured species with regular puntuated rows: the Brassy flea beetle, Chaetocnema concinna (1.8-2.4 mm) and Chaetocnema picipes (1.7-2.3 mm) live on Knotweed and Sorrel. They can't separated from a photo. Jaap Winkelman thanks for the identification and and the information. Photos 16-10-2011.
  

 

Not jumping leaf beetles. 

Subfamily Bruchinae.

Bean weevil, broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid (Bruchidius villosus). Subfamily Bruchinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Bean weevil, broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid (Bruchidius villosus). Subfamily Bruchinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Bean weevil, broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid (Bruchidius villosus). Subfamily Bruchinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Bean weevil, broom seed beetle, Scotch broom bruchid (Bruchidius villosus). Subfamily Bruchinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

Not quite sure by the resemblance to the Netherlands in very rare Bruchidius cisti. A grey beetle with short elytra. 
This seedbugs lives as larva in the pods of Broom. But it also likes the seedpods of the Golden Rain. The adult beetle feeds on pollen. On this photo it eats a by pear rust affected leaf of a pear tree. 
Native to Europe. But introduced in America and New Zealand. There it is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed known as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius).
Length about 2-3 mm.  Other species in the Netherlands: Bruchidius cisti, Bruchidius varius and an exotic Bruchidius incarnatus.  Photos 16-6-2014. 
       


Subfamily Cassidinae. 

Cassida margaritacea. Subfamily Cassidinae. Family Chrysomelidae.   Cassida margaritacea. Subfamily Cassidinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Not in the garden, but in a meadow about 3 km from our house.

Small and shiny. Yellow with a green sometimes purple sheen. The rows of dots are even. The head is black. Length 3.5-4.5 mm.
Host plants are among others called spurry (Spergula), Silene and Centaurea.
Europe, Asia Minor. Photo's 18-8-2018.
  


Subfamily Criocerinae.

Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The asparagus beetle has shiny, blue-black elytra with a red border. On the elytra are white spots. Sometimes there is more white, as you see the left photo. The thorax is red. The head, legs and antennae are black. The larvae are brownish gray, olive green and also feed like the beetle on the asparagus. 
They pupate after about three weeks in the soil. There are two generations per year. The roots of the asparagus are not happy eaten. 
Length about 6 mm.  April - September.  Europe, North America, Asia. Photos 4-6-2012.
Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi).  larva. Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Larva. 
     
Spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The spotted asparagus beetle has shiny, red elytra with black spots. The thorax and head is also red. Black antennae. The larva is brown-yellow. In 2019 I saw this spotted asparagus beetle for the first time.
Length about 6 mm. Europe, North America, Asia. Photos 4-6-2012.
     
Blue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Blue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Blue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Blue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Blue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The colour of the metallic shiny shields is variable. Blue, blue violet, blue-green, blue-black, green or coppery. The legs and antennae are of the same colour as the body.
Host: Different kinds of mint (Mentha). They like also our Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). 
Length: 6.5 - 9 mm. Europe, Middle Asia and Asia Minor. April - September. Photos 2-5-2013, 8-7-2013, 18-9-2013.
lue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Larva. Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae. lue mint beetle. (Chrysolina coerulans). Larva. Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Larva of the blue mintbeetle.   
Scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii). Tribe Criocerini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

This shiny, bright red beetle likes lilies and other members of the family Liliaceae. But the most damage is caused by the larvae.
The beetle don't taste well for birds. The beetle uses the red colour to warn enemies. The larvae make a protective shield with their own frass.
They overwinter as adults. For several months the females lay eggs on the underside of a leave. The larva pupate in the ground.
Length: 8 -11 mm. Photos 20-8-2012, 13-6-2009. German: Lilienhähnchen  French: criocère du lis   
The larvae make a protective shield with their own frass. The larvae make a protective shield with their own frass. Larva.  
     
Oulema melanopus or Oulema duftschmidi. Family Chrysomelidae... Oulema melanopus or Oulema duftschmidi. Family Chrysomelidae.. Oulema melanopus or Oulema duftschmidi. Family Chrysomelidae.  Oulema melanopus or Oulema duftschmidi. Tribe Lemini. Subfamily Criocerinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

Oulema melanopus and Oulema duftschmidi are very similar.
The pronotum and legs are bright red. The head and carapace are dark blue. Small, but very striking.
It lives on grasses and cereals.
Length: 4 - 5 mm. April - September. Photos 27-3-2012. 
    
Altica aenescens. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Altica aenescens. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 km from our house.

Shiny blue green.
Both the adult beetle as the larva is to be found especially on the birch. Fortunately not in our garden. There were many of these beetles on the leaves of the birch trees in the dunes. Therefore it was possible to identify, for there are very similar species.
Length: 4,5 - 5,5 mm. April - September. Europe. Photos 27-5-2013. 
 
Alder leaf beetle. (Agelastica alni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Alder leaf beetle. (Agelastica alni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae   Alder leaf beetle. (Agelastica alni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae
Shiny blue-black. On alder, can also occur on poplar, hazel and willow.
Length: 6-7mm. April-June. Photos 3-5-2023.  
  


Subfamily
Cryptocephalinae. 

Cryptocephalus pusillus. Subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Family Chrysomelidae.   Cryptocephalus pusillus. Subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 3 km from our house.

The upper side is (especially with the male) with a variable black-brown part (at the shoulders and the rear end back). A yellowish pronotum, sometimes partially orange or brown with the dark ones. Length 2.2-3 mm. They occur in various deciduous trees. The dark beetles can resemble the Cryptocephalus rufipes. April - September. One generation. Europe. Photo 4-7-2019.  

Subfamily Donaciinae.

Rietkever  Donacia clavipes .. Rietkever  Donacia clavipes . Rietkever  Donacia clavipes   Donacia clavipes. Subfamily Donaciinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

One of the few reed beetle species, which can be determined from a photograph. This is because of the following characteristics: No dents in the elytron, yellowish legs and antennae, rather long legs.
Cane Beetles look more like shiny, gold longhorn beetles, than like leaf beetles.
A Donacia has a soft hairy belly. By air between the hairs, they can float on water. You see them mostly along the waterside on marginal plants and floating water plants. This one sat near the pond with no-look-look.
The larvae live under water. They breathe the air
in the channels in the leaf stems of aquatic plants like water lilies.
Length 10 mm. Late May - October. Photo 30-5-2010.  
    


Subfamily Galerucinae.

Galeruca tanaceti. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Galeruca tanaceti. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Galeruca tanaceti. Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 km from our house.

The beetle is dull black and elytra and pronotum are coarsely and densely punctured. The beetle in the picture is a female with greatly enlarged abdomen. (Because of he eggs)
The eggs are at the same time with as many as 60 is attached to a leaf or stem. They are protected by the secretion of the beetle.
Galeruca tanaceti feeds on a lot of plants! Namely all kinds of plants from the sunflower family (Compositae or Asteraceae), carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), teasel family (Dipsacaceae), lily family (Liliaceae), mint family (Labiatae or Lamiaceae), knotweed family (Polygonaceae) and nightshade family (Solanaceae).
Length: 6 - 10 mm. June - September. Europe, Asia, introduced in North America. Photos 16-9-2013.  German: Rainfarn-Blattkäfer.    
Willow Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea caprea) or  heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) .. Willow Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea caprea) or  heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) . Willow Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea caprea) or  heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis)   Willow Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea caprea) or  heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis)   Willow Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea caprea) or  heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

Lochmaea caprea L. and suturalis without genital examination mostly not distinguishable. Here it is on the flower of a marsh marigold. Photos 30-4-2010.

Heather beetle  (Lochmaea suturalis).  Lochmaea suturalis  lives in areas of heath. But you can find it on other plants too. Heather beetles eat the young leaves of the heather. The larvae eat the roots. For the plant, they are harmful. I live near the dunes with heather. It is possible, it is a heather beetle.

Yellow willow beetle  (Lochmaea caprea). The willow leaf beetle lives on willow, poplar and birch. We have a birch in our garden. A yellow willow beetle is also possible. Length: 4 - 6 mm. April - September.  
              

Hawthorn leaf beetle (Lochmaea crataegi). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Hawthorn leaf beetle (Lochmaea crataegi). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Hawthorn leaf beetle (Lochmaea crataegi). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Hawthorn leaf beetle (Lochmaea crataegi). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

A red leaf beetle with on the side of the elytra a black oblong spot and at the top a small black spot.
The larvae develop in the fruits or flowers of hawthorn. Sometimes in apple or pear. The larvae pupate in the ground.
April - August. Length 4-5 mm. Native to North Africa. But now also in Northern Europe, Central Asia and Central America. Photos 6-6-2015.
    
Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae... Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.. Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.  Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae.

The Viburnum Leaf Beetle lives on different species of Viburnum. The Guelder-rose, Water Elder (Viburnum opulus) and the Viburnum tinus. Here it is on a Viburnum tinus in my garden.
They hibernate as an egg deposited in the branches. They hatch in May. The greenish-yellow larvae cause much damage, but also the beetles feed on the leaves. Initial infestations will not kill the plants.
In June, the larvae will pupate in the soil. Length 5 - 7 mm. Photos 27-8-2012.
Europe, Asia, but now also in North America, Canada (In 1947 for the first time) and from Canada to the USA . German: Schneeballblattkäfer.  French: Chrysomèle de la Viorne.
Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). larva Subfamily Galerucinae. Family Chrysomelidae. Larva Viburnum leaf beetle.
    


There are many leaf beetles on the Geman site "Kerbtier" :
Chrysomelidae (Blattkäfer)www.kerbtier.de


I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify. In particular, Jan Cuppen and Theodoor Heijerman

 

A beautiful site with much information:   The Garden Safari   An English site about beetles  Beetle Gallery
An German site about beetles www.kerbtier.de   An German site about beetles  www.koleopterologie.de

 

 Nederlands / Dutch                                             

 

                      

 

Subpage beetles    Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles          


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