Chaetocnema pulicaria
| Chaetocnema pulicaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus: | Chaetocnema |
| Species: | C. hortensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetocnema hortensis F. E. Melsheimer, 1880 | |
Chaetocnema hortensis, also known as the Corn Flea Beetle[1] and Clover Flea Beetle,[2] is a species of flea beetle from Chrysomelidae family, found in Texas, USA[3] and Canada.[4]
Description
The species is black coloured, with orange legs and antennae.[3] Their size is quite small, about 1⁄16 inch (1.6 mm) long.[5]
Species life cycle
The females lay eggs in a soil, which either have leaves or stems of plants growing nearby. The newborns hatch out of the eggs in 7 to 14 days, and turn into larvae. While in their larvae stage, they have small worm-like bodies that are white coloured. The larvae feeds especially on plants roots, causing a serious damage to the plant. Then it transforms into pupae, and a week later, into an adult.[5]
Pest
The species is known for causing damage to crops. The damaged plants include sorghum, soybeans, sweet corn, small grains, and some vegetables.[6] They feed on both sides of a leaf (upper and lower parts), including epidermis and the veins. They also transmit Stewart's disease: by removing the leaf tissue from the plant, they open a wound which allows the disease to begin spreading from plant to plant. They transmit a specific version of the disease, Erwinia stewartii (also known as Pantoea stewartii), which is harmful for certain corn products.
References
- ↑ "Chaetocnema pulicaria (Corn Flea Beetle)". Zipcode zoo. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Second common name
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Chaetocnema pulicaria". Bug Guide. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ↑ "Chaetocnema pulicaria". Discover life. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Chaetocnema pulicaria". Entomology.cornell.edu. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ↑ Pest
