Leaf beetle

A beetle in the family Chrysomelidae whose adults and larvae commonly feed on leaves or other plant parts. Many species specialize on particular host plants.

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Chrysomelidae: A large beetle family whose species mainly feed on plants as adults or larvae. Leaf beetles are members of this family, which includes several specialized subfamilies.
Colorado potato beetle: A chrysomelid beetle that feeds chiefly on potato and other plants in the nightshade family. This crop pest illustrates how a leaf beetle can specialize on economically important plants.
Herbivory: The consumption of plants or plant parts by animals. Leaf beetle feeding is a specialized form of herbivory.
Bean leaf beetle: A chrysomelid beetle that feeds on soybean and other legumes. It is a major example of a leaf beetle affecting a widely grown crop.
Insecticide resistance: The inherited ability of an insect population to survive doses of an insecticide that once controlled it. Repeated chemical control can select resistant populations of agricultural leaf beetles.
Coleoptera: The insect order comprising beetles, characterized by hardened forewings called elytra. Leaf beetles share the defining beetle body plan, including protective elytra.
Cereal leaf beetle: A chrysomelid beetle whose larvae and adults feed on cereal crops and grasses. Its feeding damages wheat, oats, and other cereals.
Plant defense: Structural and chemical traits that reduce plant damage by herbivores and pathogens. Leaf beetles encounter toxins, barriers, and other defenses in their host plants.
Elm leaf beetle: A chrysomelid beetle whose larvae and adults feed on elm leaves. Its repeated defoliation can weaken ornamental and urban elm trees.
Climate change and insects: The effects of changing climate on insect distribution, abundance, and life cycles. Warming can shift leaf beetle ranges and alter the timing of crop damage.