Leptinotarsa haldemani

Leptinotarsa haldemani
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Leptinotarsa
Species: L. haldemani
Binomial name
Leptinotarsa haldemani
Rogers

Leptinotarsa haldemani is a glossy green beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is commonly known as Haldeman's green potato beetle. It was named in honour of Samuel Stehman Haldeman, a nineteenth century American entomologist who collected insect specimens in Texas.

Contents

Description

This little beetle has a black head, antennae, thorax and legs. Its general body shape is domed and the elytra are usually deep metallic green but sometimes metallic purple or blue.[1]

Distribution

This species is found in Mexico, Central America and the American states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.[2]

Host plants

This beetle is found on members of the Solanaceae family including wild species of Physalis, Solanum douglasii and the Anderson thornbush, Lycium andersonii.[3] It is also occasionally found on potatoes.[4]

References

  1. ^ BugGuide
  2. ^ Riley, E.G., S.M. Clark, & T.N. Seeno. 2003. Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 1, 290 pp.
  3. ^ Prey preference and host suitability of the predatory and parasitoid carabid beetle, Lebia grandis, for several species of Leptinotarsa beetles
  4. ^ Clark, S.M., D.G. LeDoux, T.N. Seeno, E.G. Riley, A.J. Gilbert and J.M. Sullivan. 2004. Host plants of leaf beetle species occurring in the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae, Chrysomelidae exclusive of Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 2, 476 pp.