Leaf beetle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Leaf beetles

Scarlet lily beetle Lilioceris lilii in Oxfordshire, UK
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Superfamily:	Chrysomeloidea
Family:	Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamilies
See text

Monocesta coryli larva on Ulmus americana, the American elm

Leaf beetles are a huge family of insects called Chrysomelidae. They are a type of beetle. There are over 35,000 different kinds, or species, of leaf beetles. They belong to more than 2,500 groups called genera. This makes them one of the biggest and most common beetle families on Earth. Many smaller groups, called subfamilies, are part of this large family.

It can sometimes be tricky to tell leaf beetles apart from long-horned beetles. One way to tell them apart is by looking at their antennae. Leaf beetles have antennae that do not grow from small bumps on their forehead.

What Leaf Beetles Eat
How They Look
Types of Leaf Beetles
Leaf Beetles Through Time
Images for kids
See also

What Leaf Beetles Eat

Adult and young leaf beetles, called larvae, eat all sorts of plant parts. They can munch on leaves, stems, and even roots. Their amazing variety has grown alongside the many different types of flowering plants.

Some leaf beetles are considered pests because they damage plants that farmers grow. For example, the Colorado potato beetle loves potato plants. The asparagus beetle eats asparagus, and the cereal leaf beetle attacks grain crops. There are also tiny flea beetles that can harm plants.

A few types of leaf beetles can even spread plant diseases. But not all leaf beetles are bad! Some are used to help control unwanted weeds. This is called biocontrol.

How They Look

Most leaf beetles have bright, eye-catching colors. They are often shiny yellow, red, or even metallic blue-green. Some leaf beetles, especially the ones in the group called Cassidinae, have really strange and cool shapes. Their unique looks make them very popular with insect collectors.

Types of Leaf Beetles

The Chrysomelidae family is divided into many subfamilies. Here are some interesting ones:

Bruchinae – These are also known as bean weevils or seed beetles. They eat seeds, and some can even eat seeds that are toxic to other animals.
Cassidinae – This group includes the tortoise beetles and prickly leaf beetles. They often have unusual, flattened shapes that look like tiny shields.
Chrysomelinae – These are the broad-bodied leaf beetles. They can protect themselves by releasing a mix of toxins.
Criocerinae – This subfamily includes the asparagus beetles and lily beetles, which are known for eating those specific plants.
Cryptocephalinae – These are cylindrical leaf beetles and warty leaf beetles. Their larvae are interesting because they eat dead leaves. They also carry a protective case made of their own waste and bits of debris.
Donaciinae – These are known as longhorned leaf beetles.
Eumolpinae – This group includes the oval leaf beetles.
Galerucinae – This subfamily includes the flea beetles. They are known for their ability to jump like fleas.
Hispanae – Many beetles in this group are "leaf miners." This means their larvae tunnel and eat inside plant leaves.
Sagrinae – These are called frog-legged beetles or kangaroo beetles. They are very common in Australia. They have strong, spiny back legs that they use to grab and hold attackers.

Leaf Beetles Through Time

Scientists have found very few leaf beetle fossils from the Cretaceous period. This was a long time ago, when dinosaurs lived. It is thought that leaf beetles first appeared in the early Cretaceous period. Later, different groups of leaf beetles began to develop. This happened as flowering plants also became more common and diverse.