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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola > Coleoptera (beetles) > Polyphaga > Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea

A diverse family ranging in shape, colour and size (1-35mm). Some also resemble the ladybirds (Coccinellidae). Adults and larvae are herbivores and many are regarded as pests. Adults eat leaves and flowers and the larvae feed on, mine or bore into leaves, stems and roots.

Subfamilies encountered in southern Africa

Subfamily: Alticinae (Flea Beetles)

Includes Diamphidia vittatipennis (used by San / Bushmen as a source of poison for arrows).

Subfamily: Bruchinae (pea weevils, bean weevils, seed weevils)

Subfamily: Cassidinae (tortoise Beetles)

Subfamily: Chlamisinae  
Subfamily: Chrysomelinae

Subfamily: Clytrinae

 

Subfamily: Criocerinae

Subfamily: Cryptocephalinae

Subfamily: Donaciinae

 
Subfamily: Eumolpinae

Subfamily: Galerucinae
Subfamily: Hispinae

Subfamily: Lamprosomatinae

 

Subfamily: Megalopodinae

 

Subfamily: Sagrinae

Page by Margie Cochrane