Chrysomelidae - Leaf Beetles

The great majority of species in this very large beetle family are terrestrial, but a few taxa, which have specialized on phytophagy upon Nymphaeaceae and other aquatic plants, have become associated with, or adapted to, aquatic habitats (Jolivet and Hawkeswood 1995). The ecology of aquatic and semiaquatic chrysomelids has been summarized by Jolivet and Verma (2002). Larvae of all aquatic species (Donaciinae) use a pair of specialized hooks at the end of the abdomen to tap oxygen from air-containing chambers in plant tissue. Mandibles of the larvae are adapted to macerate plant tissue, and the maxilliary galea and lacinia are adapted to use pharyngeal suction of plant fluids. Larvae construct pupal chambers on their host plants, which is connected to the plant's air cavities. As in the aquatic-adapted Curculionidae, semiaquatic taxa utilize cuticular waxes and hairs as a respiratory plastron or to aid in swimming.Species citations are based on Downie and Arnett (1996), and this list must be considered provisional as no other literature has been consulted, or musuem specimens examined.

Disonycha Chevrolat, 1844

[not all species in genus are aquatic, and I have tried to omit terrestrial species; on Amaranthaceae]
Disonycha admirabilis Blatchley, 1924 - IN, OH
Disonycha alternata (Illiger), 1807 Haltica - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Disonycha caroliniana (Fabricius), 1775 Crioceris - IL
Disonycha latifrons Schaeffer, 1919 - Downie and Arnett (1996) (maybe found in wetlands on goldenrod)
Disonycha pensylvanica (Illiger), 1807 Haltica - IL, IN, OH (widespread)
Disonycha procera Casey, 1884 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Disonycha uniguttata (Say), 1824 Altica - Downie and Arnett (1996)

Donaciella Rietter, 1920

Donaciella pubicollis (Suffrian), 1872 Donacia - Downie and Arnett (1996)

Donacia Fabricius, 1775

Donacia assimilis Lacordaire, 1845 - IL
Donacia biimpressa Melsheimer, 1847 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia caerulea Olivier, 1795 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia cazieri Marx, 1957 - ON (northern, expect in Isle Royale)
Donacia cincticornis Newman, 1838 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia confluenta Say, 1827 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia cuprea Kirby, 1837 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia distincta Leconte, 1851 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia fulgens Leconte, 1851- Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia hirticollis Kirby, 1837 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia liebecki Schaeffer, 1919 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia limonia Schaeffer, 1925 - IN, ON
Donacia magnifica Leconte, 1851 - ON, MN (widespread)
Donacia megacornis Blatchley, 1910 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia palmata Olivier, 1795 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia parvidens Schaeffer, 1919 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia piscatrix Lacordaire, 1845 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia porosicollis Lacordaire, 1845 (Donacia) - MN, ON (expect in Isle Royale, western UP)
Donacia proxima Kirby, 1837 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia pubescens Leconte, 1868 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia rufescens Lacordaire, 1845 (Donacia) - IN, OH, ON (widespread east)
Donacia rugosa Leconte, 1851 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia subtilis Kunze, 1818 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia texana Crotch, 1873 - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Donacia tuberculifrons Schaeffer, 1919 - Downie and Arnett (1996)

Hydrothassa Thomson, 1866

[Ranunculus and marsh vegetation]
Hydrothassa boreella Schaeffer, 1928 - widespread, expect northern Michigan
Hydrothassa obliquata (Leconte), 1866 Prasocuris - IN, OH
Hydrothassa ovalis (Blatchley), 1910 Prasocuris - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Hydrothassa vittata (Olivier), 1808 Helodes - IN, OH (widespread)

Neohaemonia Szekessy 1941

Neohaemonia flagellata Askevold, 1988 - IL, IN, ON, MN
Neohaemonia melsheimeri Lacordaire 1845 (Haemonia) - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Neohaemonia minnesotensis Askevold 1988 (Neohaemonia) - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Neohaemonia nigricornis (Kirby), 1837 Haemonia - MN, ON, WI (widespread)

Prasocuris Latreille, 1802

Prasocuris phellandrii (Linnaeus), 1758 Chrysomela - IN, OH, ON

Pyrrhalta Joannis, 1866

[not all species are aquatic]
Pyrrhalta (Tricholochomaea) alni (Fall), 1924 Galerucella - Downie and Arnett (1996) on alder
Pyrrhalta (Tricholochomaea) decora (Say), 1824 Galleruca - Downie and Arnett (1996) on willow
Pyrrhalta (Neogalerucalla) quebecensis (Brown), 1938 Galerucella - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Pyrrhalta (Tricholochomaea) ribicola (Brown), 1938 Galerucella - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Pyrrhalta (Tricholochomaea) spiraeae (Fall), 1924 Galerucella - Downie and Arnett (1996)
Pyrrhalta (Tricholochomaea) tuberculata (Say), 1824 Galleruca - Downie and Arnett (1996), on willow

Page created: April 9, 2003 (EB) - Last updated: April 27, 2003 (EB)