hispine leaf beetle
(Microrhopala xerene)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | NNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Microrhopala xerene is a very small, ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ (3.6 to 4.9 mm) long, leaf-mining beetle. The body is elongated and nearly parallel-sided, only slightly widened toward the rear. The hardened plate on the upper side of the thorax (pronotum) is black and is narrower than the base of the hardened forewings (elytra). The elytra have rows of punctures bordered by distinct ridges. There is a red stripe and a red subapical spot on each elytra. The margins of the elytra are toothed (serrated). The head is black and slants backward. The part of the face between the eyes corresponding to the forehead (frons) is distinctly angled. The eyes are large and black and are not notched. The mouth parts are small. The antennae are black and short, less than half as long as the body. They have 11 segments but the terminal segments are fused together, making them appear to have just 8 segments. The legs are black. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, is black and has five segments. The fourth segment is very short and is concealed within the broadened tip of the third segment, making the tarsus appear to have only four segments. |
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Size |
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Total length: ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Various plants in the aster (Asteraceae) family |
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Biology |
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Season |
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Behavior |
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The larvae are leaf miners. They feed between the upper and lower leaf surfaces. |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
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Leaves of the same plants that the adults feed on |
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Adult Food |
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Leaves of various plants in the aster (Asteraceae) family, including: Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 7/4/2018 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Widely distributed |
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.png "Distribution Map")
Taxonomy |
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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 |
Cassidinae (tortoise beetles and the hispines) | ||
Tribe |
Chalepini | ||
Genus |
Microrhopala | ||
Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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This species has no common name. The common name of the former subfamily Hispinae (now moved to the subfamily Cassidinae with the tortoise beetles) is hispine leaf beetles, and it is applied here for convenience. |
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Glossary
Elytra
The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.
Frons
The upper front part of an insect’s face, roughly corresponding to the forehead.
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
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.
Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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a small insect |
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_01.jpg "hispine leaf beetle (Microrhopala xerene)") |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Alfredo Colon 6/6/2018 |
Location: Woodbury, MN a small insect |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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