sumac flea beetle
(Blepharida rhois)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Sumac flea beetle flea beetle is the only species in its genus. At ¼″ to 5 ⁄16″ long and ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ wide, it is one of the largest flea beetles. 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 third leg segment (femur) is greatly enlarged and has an internal spring mechanism that allows the insect to jump. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments but the fourth segment is minute, making it appear that there are only four segments. 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. |
Size |
Total length: ¼″ to 5 ⁄16″ |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
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Biology |
Season |
Late spring and early summer |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
Adults overwinter in soil or plant material. |
Larva Food |
Leaves of smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). |
Adult Food |
Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 5/15/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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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 |
Galerucinae (skeletonizing leaf and flea beetles) |
Tribe |
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Subtribe |
Blepharidina |
Genus |
Blepharida |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Chrysomela rhois Chrysomela stalida Chrysomela meticulosa Blepharida atripennis Blepharida dorothea |
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Common Names |
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jumping sumac-beetle sumac flea beetle |
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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.
Femur
In insects, the largest, most robust segment of the leg, coming immediately before the tibia. In humans, the thigh bone.
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
Visitor Photos |
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Nina Arnsdorff |
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Found them eating my purple smoke bush and golden smoke bush. I’ve had these bushes 15 yrs and this is the first year I’ve noticed these beetles. |
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Ed Frickson |
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| My daughter took this photo today, May 6th on a twig of an apple tree. It took us a little while to find out what type of beetle this was - as a lifelong Minnesota resident I have not seen this beetle before. I thought it was a very clear photo that shows off the nice coloration/pattern. |  |
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Ordisw |
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Just the worms right now. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Missy Tatro |
Location: Grawn, Michigan On my smokebush |
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| Nina Arnsdorff 8/8/2023 |
Location: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota Found them eating my purple smoke bush and golden smoke bush. I’ve had these bushes 15 yrs and this is the first year I’ve noticed these beetles. |
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| Ed Frickson 5/6/2020 |
Location: near Lindstrom Minnesota My daughter took this photo today, May 6th on a twig of an apple tree. It took us a little while to find out what type of beetle this was - as a lifelong Minnesota resident I have not seen this beetle before. I thought it was a very clear photo that shows off the nice coloration/pattern. |
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| Ordisw 8/30/2018 |
Location: 55417 I have them on my Smoke tree. Just the worms and copious amounts of poop. |
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| Sophie and Nicole 9/12/2014 |
Location: Behind Wayzata east middle school It had green eyes and a red head |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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