Colaspoides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colaspoides |
|
|---|---|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Subfamily: | Eumolpinae |
| Tribe: | Eumolpini |
| Genus: | Colaspoides Laporte, 1833 |
| Type species | |
| Cryptocephalus limbatus Fabricius, 1781
|
|
| Species | |
|
See text |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Colaspoides is a group, called a genus, of tiny insects known as leaf beetles. These beetles belong to a larger family called Eumolpinae. Colaspoides is one of the biggest groups in this family, with over 100 different kinds, or species, found all over the world.
These beetles are still alive today, but scientists have also found very old ones! One species, C. eocenicus, was discovered trapped in Baltic amber. Amber is like fossilized tree sap. This fossil is from the Upper Eocene period in Russia, which was about 37 to 34 million years ago. Other Colaspoides fossils have also been found in the Miocene period in the Dominican Republic.
Scientists are always learning new things about how living things are related. Some Colaspoides species from the "Old World" (like Europe, Asia, and Africa) look very similar to beetles in another group called Beltia. This means that scientists might decide to put them into different groups in the future.
Contents
What are Colaspoides Species?
There are many different kinds of Colaspoides beetles. Each kind is called a species. Scientists give each species a unique two-part scientific name, like Colaspoides abdominalis. The second part of the name often tells us something about the beetle or honors the person who discovered it.
When Names Change: Renamed Species
Sometimes, scientists discover that a name they gave to a species has already been used for another species. This is called a "preoccupied name." When this happens, they have to give the species a new name. Here are some examples for Colaspoides:
- Colaspoides malayana (named in 1998) was already used, so it was renamed to Colaspoides malayensis in 2004.
- Colaspoides pallidula (named in 1915) was already used, so it was renamed to Colaspoides leai in 2001.
- Colaspoides piceus (named in 1982) was already used, so it was renamed to Colaspoides piceana in 2004.
- Colaspoides tarsalis (named in 1935) was already used, so it was renamed to Colaspoides paddis in 1968.
- Colaspoides tibialis (named in 1875) was already used, so it was renamed to Colaspoides tibiella in 1953.
When Names are the Same: Synonyms
Sometimes, different scientists might describe the same species but give it different names. When this happens, the older, correct name is kept, and the newer names become "synonyms." It's like having two different nicknames for the same person.
- Colaspoides discoidea is actually the same as Colaspoides viridicollis.
- Colaspoides imasakai yakuanus is the same as Colaspoides imasakai.
- Colaspoides opulenta is the same as Colaspoides fasciata.
- Colaspoides paviei is the same as Colaspoides rugipennis.
- Colaspoides phalerata is the same as Colaspoides philippinensis.
- Colaspoides subrugosa is the same as Colaspoides bengalensis.
Species That Moved to Another Group: Beltia
As scientists learn more, they sometimes realize that a species was put in the wrong group. They then move it to a more fitting genus. This happened with some Colaspoides species, which were moved to the Beltia genus:
- Colaspoides chanchamayensis is now a synonym of Beltia weyrauchi.
- Colaspoides chiriquensis is now Beltia chiriquensis.
- Colaspoides placidula is now Beltia placidula.
- Colaspoides placidula angustomarginata is now Beltia angustomarginata.
- Colaspoides turialbana is now a synonym of Beltia chiriquensis.
- Colaspoides weyrauchi is now Beltia weyrauchi.
See also
- In Spanish: Colaspoides para niños
