Chrysomelidae > Chrysomelidae Index

The beetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as Leaf Beetles. They come in a variety of body shapes, from elongated, flattened, oval and globular, even the larvae of the the Leaf Beetle group are variable in shape. Belonging to more then 2,500 genera, containing over 37,000 species, Chrysomelidae make up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. Whilst there are many subfamilies that are recognised, the continual studies involving this group will see changes to the precise taxonomy and systematics in the ongoing research. For more information, check out our Chrysomelidae Index.

Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis maculata), Southern Downs QLD © Marc Newman
Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis maculata), Southern Downs QLD © Marc Newman

Some species of adults of this group of Chrysomelidae may be mistaken for Ladybirds or Lady Beetles, due to their oval shape and appearance, but Lady Beetles are in the family Coccinellidae.

Blessed Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna beata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Blessed Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna beata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

The Leaf Beetles species range in size from 5 to 25 mm in length and are usually brightly coloured as both adults and larvae. Both larvae and adults of the Leaf Beetles group are herbivores and are found feeding on the leaves and sometimes the stems of plants (with different species found on certain groups of plants).

Paropsisterna laesa (Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle), Alice Springs NT
Paropsisterna laesa (Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle), Alice Springs NT
Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis), Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden, Dee Why NSW
Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis), Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden, Dee Why NSW
Paropsis porosa, Newnes Plateau NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsis porosa, Newnes Plateau NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsisterna pictipes, Bermagui NSW © Deb Taylor
Paropsisterna pictipes, Bermagui NSW © Deb Taylor
Cadmus luctuosus, (NATURA Issue 11) © Deb Taylor
Cadmus luctuosus,, Wallaga Lake NSW (source NATURA Issue 11) © Deb Taylor
Green Strip Leaf Beetle (Calomela pallida), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Strip Leaf Beetle (Calomela pallida), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Pandorea Leaf Beetle (Johannica gemellata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Pandorea Leaf Beetle (Johannica gemellata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna m-fuscum), Watson ACT © Tony Eales
Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna m-fuscum), Watson ACT © Tony Eales
Silver Wattle Leaf Beetle (Calomela ioptera), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Silver Wattle Leaf Beetle (Calomela ioptera), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Acacia Leaf Beetle (Dicranosterna picea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Acacia Leaf Beetle (Dicranosterna picea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

More information on the presented images:

White Acacia Leaf Beetle larva (Dicranosterna circe), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
White Acacia Leaf Beetle larva (Dicranosterna circe), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
  • Family: Chrysomelidae
  • Subfamily:
    • Bruchinae Latreille, 1802
    • Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813
    • Chrysomelinae Latreille, 1802
    • Criocerinae Latreille, 1807
    • Cryptocephalinae Gyllenhal, 1813
    • Donaciinae Kirby, 1837
    • Eumolpinae Hope, 1840
    • Galerucinae Latreille, 1802
    • Sagrinae Leach, 1815
    • Spilopyrinae Chapuis, 1874

Footnote & References

  1. Chrysomelidae, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/59bf37ce-d903-4f84-a799-bd3286c9b963
  2. Leaf Beetles (Family Chrysomelidae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/51146-Chrysomelidae

Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)Chrysomelidae Index Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Platymela hasenpuschi

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub