Rhabdopterus is a genus of leaf beetles. It occurs in eastern North America, Central America, and western South America. There are about 70 described Rhabdopterus species worldwide, 8 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 2 species in Minnesota. It is rare in Minnesota, where it is at the northwest extent of its range.

Adults are found in late spring and summer in a variety of habitats feeding on a variety of plants, including oak, carrionflower, and grape. They are active at night and are attracted to lights.

Photo by Alfredo Colon

Description

Adults are generally oval in shape with straight sides along the middle. They are dark reddish-brown to blackish with a metallic iridescence. The head is fully visible when viewed from above. The exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is smooth, shiny, and covered with very fine pits (punctures). It is narrower than the bases of the hardened wing covers (elytra).

Two of the three species that may occur in Minnesota, Rhabdopterus deceptor and Rhabdopterus praetextus, are virtually identical in appearance. They can be told apart only by examining the male genitalia under a microscope.


Distribution
		Sources 24, 27, 29, 30, 82.
10/21/2024


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	Eumolpinae
Tribe	Eumolpini
Subtribe	Iphimeites

Subordinate Taxa
cranberry rootworm (Rhabdopterus picipes) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus bottimeri) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus deceptor) (?) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus fulvipes) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus guatemalensis) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus mexicanus) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus praetextus) (?) leaf beetle (Rhabdopterus weisei)

Synonyms


Common Names
This genus has no common name. The common name of the subfamily Eumolpinae is leaf beetles, and it is used here for convenience.

Glossary

Elytra

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

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.


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Alfredo Colon


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