Calligrapha scalaris group is a species complex – an informal grouping – of leaf beetles in the genus Calligrapha. Many were previously included in the species Calligrapha scalaris.

There are fourteen species recognized as the Calligrapha scalaris group. All of them occur in North America north of Mexico. Seven species have been recorded in Minnesota.

Like all calligrapher beetles, species in this group are found in woodlands. Adults are active from April to September.

calligrapher beetle (Calligrapha scalaris group)

Photo by Luciearl

Both adults and larvae feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs. Some feed exclusively on a single tree or shrub genus or even just a single species. Some will move to a secondary host if their preferred host is unavailable.

Description

Two characters distinguish species in the Calligrapha scalaris group from similar Calligrapha species. Both characters must be present.

On each elytron:

The subsutural stripe merges with the sutural stripe.
When the arcuate band is divided into two separate spots, the subsutural stripe merges usually with the basal spot, sometimes with the top spot, sometimes with both. The only exception is Calligrapha spiraea, in which both spots are free.


Distribution
		Sources 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83. New distribution records and biogeography of Calligrapha species in North America (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae) Gómez-Zurita J. 2005. Canadian Field-Naturalist 119: 88-100.
5/28/2024


Taxonomy
Order	Coleoptera (beetles)
Suborder	Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)
Infraorder	Cucujiformia
Superfamily	Chrysomeloidea (leaf beetles and allies)
Family	Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)
Subfamily	Chrysomelinae (broad-bodied leaf beetles)
Tribe	Doryphorini
Subtribe	Doryphorina
Genus	Calligrapha (calligrapher beetles)
Subgenus	Calligrapha

Tribe Some sources place the genus Calligrapha in the tribe Chrysomelini, others sources place it in the tribe Doryphorini. Species group The species Calligrapha scalaris was first described by John Eatton LeConte in 1824 on the basis of color and two conspicuous markings on the wing covers (elytra): a moon-shaped marking in the shoulder (humeral) area; and a broad, tooth-like marking connected to the middle (sutural) stripe. The beetle was reported to be an occasional serious pest of American elm. LeConte’s description accurately distinguished the new species from all other Calligrapha species then known. Since then, at least thirteen new species have been described that share these characters. In 1945, W. J. Brown identified a species complex of several species that were morphologically very similar but had very different host preferences and ecologies. A more recent study (Gómez-Zurita J., 2015) analyzed the original material from the Calligrapha scalaris collections of LeConte (1824) and of G. H. Horn (1884). The author found the collections contained as many as nine distinct species, many having no association with elm. He redefined the original species and defined fourteen species as the “Calligrapha scalaris” group.

Subordinate Taxa
calligrapher beetle (Calligrapha floridana) confluent leaf beetle (Calligrapha confluens) deceitful leaf beetle (Calligrapha dolosa) elm calligrapha (Calligrapha scalaris) hazelnut leaf beetle (Calligrapha rhoda) hop-hornbeam leaf beetle (Calligrapha ostryae) Knab’s dogwood leaf beetle (Calligrapha knabi) linden leaf beetle (Calligrapha tilia) meadowsweet leaf beetle (Calligrapha spiraea) Ontario Calligrapha (Calligrapha amator) plum leaf beetle (Calligrapha pruni) Rowena’s leaf beetle (Calligrapha rowena) unknown leaf beetle (Calligrapha ignota) Virginia leaf beetle (Calligrapha virginea)

Synonyms


Common Names
Calligrapha scalaris group

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.


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Joan Crabtree

A Beatle I found on our door


Luciearl

I came across this picture on a memory card from last year. Just this one beetle and never saw it again. On our deck railing.


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