SHINY FLEA BEETLE
Leaf beetle eggs
LEAF BEETLE EGGS (Chrysomelidae)
This beetle has a shiny red head and thorax and a shiny green elytra. It is about 1/3 rd of an inch long. It was identified by V. Belov, an expert at Bugguide.net. As is true of all flea beetles the hind leg femora is greatly enlarged.
This beetle is usually found on skullcap, a plant in the mint family. Its occurrence at Fontenelle Forest is not known. This beetle was photographed in early June, 2013. Adult flea beetles feed externally on plants, eating the surface of the leaves, stems and petals.
Flea beetles are a general name applied to the small, jumping beetles of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). They make up the tribe Alticini, which is a part of the subfamily Galerucinae.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Eric Scholar.