Leaf Beetles

Family Chrysomelidae

Dogbane leaf beetle (Chrysochus auratus). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Both larvae and adults are phytophagous (plant-eating) and chrysomelids attack all parts of the plant. The adults feed mostly on flowers and foliage. The larvae feed on the foliage, other are leaf miners, and some feed on the roots. Some are serious pests of cultivated plants and others have been used to control weeds. Many Chrysomelidae are bright metallic in colour and they are extremely varied in shape.The antennae are short, usually less than half the length of the body. Although tropical species can be very large, leaf beetles in North America are usually less than 12 mm long.