What are leaf beetles?
Q: What are leaf beetles?
A: Leaf beetles are a family of beetles known as Chrysomelidae, and there are over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera.
Q: How common are leaf beetles?
A: Leaf beetles are one of the largest and most common of all beetle families.
Q: Do leaf beetles have any subfamilies?
A: Yes, there are many subfamilies within the family Chrysomelidae.
Q: What is the tarsal formula of leaf beetles?
A: Leaf beetles have a tarsal formula which appears to be 4-4-4, but is actually 5-5-5.
Q: What do adult and larval leaf beetles feed on?
A: Both adult and larval leaf beetles feed on all sorts of plant tissue.
Q: Are leaf beetles considered pests?
A: Yes, many leaf beetles are considered serious pests of cultivated plants, including the Colorado potato beetle, the asparagus beetle, the cereal leaf beetle, and various flea beetles.
Q: Are leaf beetles popular among insect collectors?
A: Yes, leaf beetles are highly popular among insect collectors, especially those species with glossy yellow to red or metallic blue-green hues and unique shapes such as Cassidinae.
