Flea Beetle

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A very cool beetle for your consideration.

Photographed at Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge on the Rio Grande River, Texas

Eight-spotted Flea Beetle
Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata

The adults are very small to moderately sized Chrysomelidae (i.e. among beetles in general they are on the smallish side).

They are similar to other leaf beetles, but characteristically have the hindleg femora greatly enlarged. These enlarged femora allow for the springing action of these insects when disturbed. Flea beetles can also walk normally and fly. Many flea beetles are attractively colored; dark, shiny and often metallic colors predominate.

Adult flea beetles feed externally on plants, eating the surface of the leaves, stems and petals. Under heavy feeding these holes may coalesce into larger areas of damage. Some flea beetle larvae (e.g. of Phyllotreta species) are root feeders.

In adverse weather conditions (rain, for example) some flea beetles seek shelter in the soil. At least a few species(Phyllotreta cruciferae and P. striolata) prefer warm, dry weather. The German name Erdflöhe (literally "earth fleas") refers to their jumping ability and this behavior of hiding in the soil.

Troy and Martha

For those that want a little more information:

From: Texas Entomology - Texas Beetle information

Range: Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central America (Riley et al. 2003)

Hosts: Polyphagous (Mignot 1970; Clark et al. 2004)

Similar Species:

This genus includes about 50 species found throughout the Neotropics (Arnett et al. 2002), but only Omophoitacyanipennis octomaculata occurs in the United States (Riley et al. 2003)

Type Specimen:

Original combination: Oedionychis octamaculata Crotch, 1873
Current name Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata

Etymology: Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata (Crotch)

omo (G). The shoulder; unripe, raw
phoita ?
cyan, -e, -i, -o (G). Dark blue
penn, =a, -ati, -i (L). A feather; a wing; feathered
oct, -i, -o (L). Eight
=macula, -t (L). Spot; spotted

Biology: George Robert Crotch (1842 - 1874) was a British entomologist.

Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Long-horned and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) » Skeletonizing leaf beetles (Galerucinae) » Flea Beetles (Alticini) » Omophoita » Eight-spotted Flea Beetle (Omophoita cyanipennis)

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