sumac flea beetle |
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Blepharida rhois |
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| Order | Coleoptera (Beetles) |
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| Suborder | Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles) |
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| Superfamily | Chrysomeloidea (Long-horned and Leaf Beetles) |
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| Family | Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) |
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| Subfamily | Galerucinae (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles) |
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| Tribe | Alticini (Flea Beetles) |
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| Season | Late spring and early summer |
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| Habitat |
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| Larval Food | In Minnesota, leaves of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus hirta) |
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| Adult Food | In Minnesota,Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus hirta) |
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| Identification | This flea beetle is the only species in its genus. At The body is broad and convex. The head and thorax are yellow. The covering of the first section of the thorax (pronotum) is yellow. It does not have a furrow or lateral depressions. The wing covers (elytra) are reddish-brown, mottled with white or yellowish-white, and have punctures arranged in rows. The femur is greatly enlarged and has an internal spring mechanism that allows the insect to jump. The larvae are dull greenish-yellow and about ½″ long. They retain a large, viscous mound of fecal matter (fecal shield) on their backs as a defense against predators. They feed on sumac leaves leaving a shothole pattern, small holes that appear like the pattern of fine birdshot. |
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| Life Cycle | Adults overwinter in soil or plant material. |
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| Similar Species |
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| Sightings |
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| Images | Click on an image for a larger view. | ||||||
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| Synonyms | Chrysomela rhois Chrysomela stalida Chrysomela meticulosa Blepharida atripennis Blepharida dorothea |
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| Common Names |
Jumping Sumac-beetle sumac flea beetle |
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