dogbane beetle

(Chrysochus auratus)

Conservation Status
dogbane beetle
Photo by Mike Poeppe
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The body is oval-shaped, strongly convex, bluish-green, and shiny.

The hardened wing covers (elytra) have a coppery, brassy, or bluish sheen.

The head and thorax are bright metallic green and shiny. The antennae are thread-like, bluish-black, and widely separated at the base. They have 12 segments and are less than half as long as the body.

The legs are bluish-black. The part of the leg that corresponds to a foot (tarsus) has five segments, but appears to have only four because the fourth segment is very small.

The larvae are called rootworms. They have a white body and brown head.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 5 16to 7 16

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Anywhere the host plants are found

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Early summer to fall

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

When disturbed, it drops to the ground and attempts to hide in the leaf litter. If handled, it may exude a foul-smelling secretion.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Masses of yellow eggs are laid in the summer on the ground or on leaves and stems of the host plant. When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the ground and burrow into the soil, where they feed on the roots of the same plant. They pupate in the soil and emerge the following early summer as adults.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

Roots of mostly Indian hemp and spreading dogbane; occasionally milkweed

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Leaves of mostly Indian hemp and spreading dogbane; occasionally milkweed

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  8/1/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
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

Eumolpinae (oval leaf beetles)  
 

Tribe

Eumolpini  
 

Genus

Chrysochus  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

dogbane beetle

dogbane leaf beetle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

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

 

Tarsus

On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Glen Young

 
 

our neighbor has many milkweed plants on his beach and this beetle landed on my leg.

 
    dogbane beetle      
 

Mike Poeppe

 
    dogbane beetle      
 

Dan W. Andree

 
  Cool little beetles. They can turn several different shades of metallic colors depending on the day lighting and surroundings. I have even seen them with metallic reds on them.   dogbane beetle  
           
 

Dogbane beetle in hand

 
    dogbane beetle      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Dogbane Beetle (Chrysochus auratus)
Andree Reno Sanborn
  Dogbane Beetle (Chrysochus auratus)  

 

slideshow

       
 
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Dan W. Andree

 
  "The Dogbane Beetle" Nature Music Video
Published on Sep 17, 2016
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 17, 2016

I came across this colorful little beetle for the first time late this summer. The Dogbane is small metallic colored beetle not that much bigger than a ladybug. It averages 3/8 to 1/2 inch in size. I found them to be interesting, harmless - even what appeared to be napping at times and quite colorful. Filmed from Aug. 15th to Sept. 3rd - 2016. Background music added.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Dogbane beetle cleans latex sap from mouth
Bug of the Week
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 18, 2016

When the goop is just too much to handle, a backward stroll helps the dogbane beetle to rid its mouthparts of sticky latex.

 
  Dogbane Leaf Beetle
Jacob Kramer
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 13, 2013

The Dogbane Leaf beetles' iridescence is produced by special body structures and light. The surface of the body parts of this beetle is made up of stacks of tiny, slanting plates, under which is a pigment (substance that produces color). Some light rays reflect from the surface of the plates, and other light rays reflect from the pigment underneath. At different angles, the light reflects at different speeds, causing interference and resulting in our seeing different colors that shine.

Description:
The dogbane leaf beetle is a small (8-11 mm.), oblong, shiny insect that displays blue, gold, green, and coppery colors. Its underside is bluish-green. It has wide-set atennae with eleven segments. The larva is white with a brown head. It feeds on roots and leaves of dogbane and other milkweed plants.

 
  Dogbane Leaf Beetle Nature Walks with Mark Fraser
nwwmark
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 7, 2010

I am often amazed at the incredible colors that can be found within nature. Some species are actually colored in a jaw - dropping metallic iridescence. One of the best examples of that, has to be the Dogbane Leaf Beetle seen on this film! Like their names sake, they spend most of their entire lives feeding on the Dogbane and also on the milkweed plant. They will lay their eggs at the base of the host plant, and when the larvae hatch they will burrow in the soil feeding on the roots. As they reach their adult stage, they spend their lives feeding on the greenery in a world of beautiful iridescent beetles! There are many possible uses for their breathtaking coloration, the one I think is the most intriguing is communication. As they move about the metallic iridescent colors will change from glowing greens to reds and even bronze. They are another great example of the beauty of the natural world and truly amazing to admire. I'm Mark Fraser and to read up on more exciting adventures studying our incredible wild neighbors join me at http://www.naturewalkswithmark.org

 

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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  Glen Young
7/30/2022

Location: Crow Wing County, Merrifield MN

our neighbor has many milkweed plants on his beach and this beetle landed on my leg.

dogbane beetle  
  Mike Poeppe
7/30/2022

Location: Just west of Houston, MN

dogbane beetle  
  Glenn Valek
9/2/2020

Location: Blooming Prairie MN

   
  Marie L. Ronning
8/5/2019

Location: Appleton, Minnesota

   
  Dan W. Andree
2/18/2018

Location: Clay County

Cool little beetles.  They can turn several different shades of metallic colors depending on the day lighting and surroundings.  I have even seen them with metallic reds on them.  

dogbane beetle  
  Dan W. Andree
2/2/2018

Location: Sandpiper Prairie SNA

Dogbanes are small metallic like beetles that mainly feed on dogbane plants. They are harmless and a nice little beetle. Adults are about 3/8 to a half inch possibly a fraction larger than half an inch some of the bigger adults but are small.

dogbane beetle  
           
 
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