California calligraphy leaf beetle
(Calligrapha californica)
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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California calligraphy leaf beetle is a common, small, broad-bodied leaf beetle. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada. In the U.S. there are three distinctly separated populations: east of the Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and Wyoming and Colorado. It is common in Minnesota. Adults are active from April to August. They feed on the leaves of beggarticks (Bidens spp.), coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.), and ragweed (Ambrosia spp.). Adults are 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (5.0 to 6.5 mm) in length. The body is elongated-oval when viewed from above and somewhat convex when viewed from the side. The head is black. It is inserted into the first segment of the thorax and is only partly visible from above. The mouthparts are directed downward. The antennae are black and have 11 segments. They are weakly expanded beyond the fifth segment, gradually enlarged as they approach the tip. The eyes are not notched. The exoskeletal plate covering the first segment of the thorax (pronotum) is rectangular and wider than the head. It is pale at the front, rear, and lateral margins, with an irregular black spot of variable size in the middle. The sides of the thorax are not thickened. The hardened wing covers (elytra) are beige and long, entirely covering the abdomen. Each elytron has a black longitudinal stripe in the inner margin (sutural stripe) and a similar stripe in the middle (lateral stripe). The lateral stripe is not notched or is only weekly notched in the middle. The legs are black. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, 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. There is a pair of claws at the tip of the tarsus on each leg. The claws are equal in size and are broadly separated at the base. They are not cleft. _______________________ The above description refers to Calligrapha californica coreopsivora, the only subspecies that occurs in Minnesota. |
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Size |
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Total length: 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (5.0 to 6.5 mm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Biology |
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Season |
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April to August |
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Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
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Adult Food |
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Leaves of beggarticks (Bidens spp.) and possibly other plants in the Aster (Asteraceae) family |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 1/2/2024 | ||||
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 |
Chrysomelinae (broad-bodied leaf beetles) | ||
Tribe |
Doryphorini | ||
| Subtribe | Doryphorina | ||
Genus |
Calligrapha (calligrapher beetles) | ||
Subgenus |
Bidensomela | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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California calligraphy leaf beetle (Calligrapha californica californica) coreopsis leaf beetle (Calligrapha californica coreopsivora) |
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Synonyms |
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Calligrapha coreopsivora Calligrapha elegans Chrysomela elegans |
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Common Names |
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California calligraphy leaf beetle coreopsis beetle tickseed leaf 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.
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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Babette Kis |
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Calligrapha californica Calligrapha californica, photo taken July 6, 2023 at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Other Videos |
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| Coreopsis Beetle Hamilton Native Outpost |
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About
Aug 5, 2022 These can really be a prevelant problem in plantings where there are a large quantity of coreopsis plants, including: Grand Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, and Tickseed/Lanceleaf Coreopsis, however, insects like this are crutial to the food chain, especially to grassland birds including quail, turkey, songbirds, and prairie chicken. Leaf Beetle - Calligrapha californica coreopsivora, Insect that eats Coreopsis Plants. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Babette Kis 7/6/2023 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI Calligrapha californica, photo taken July 6, 2023 at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 1/2/2024
Last Updated: