www.small-beings.org
www.small-beings.org
Die Blattkäfer (Chrysomelidae) bilden mit rund 50.000 zurzeit beschriebenen, weltweit verbreiteten Arten eine große Familie unter den Käfern. Allein in Deutschland gibt es über 470 Arten. Als Pflanzenfresser sind Blattkäfer oft schädlich, z. B. Kartoffelkäfer, Erdflöhe, Spargelhähnchen, Pappelblattkäfer oder Erlenblattkäfer.
Blattkäfer sind kleine bis mittelgroße Käfer mit einer gewölbten, eiförmigen Körperform und metallisch glänzenden oder bunten Farben. Sie ernähren sich hauptsächlich von Blättern, indem sie sie benagen, skelettieren oder durchlöchern. Die Weibchen legen ihre Eier einzeln oder in Häufchen auf ihren Futterpflanzen ab. Die Larven sind gestreckt-walzenförmig und oft mit Warzen oder Fortsätzen versehen. Es gibt verschiedene Unterfamilien und Arten von Blattkäfern, wie z.B. den Grünen Schildkäfer, den Kartoffelkäfer oder den Lilienhähnchen.
The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 (and probably at least 50,000) species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. Numerous subfamilies are recognized, but the precise taxonomy and systematics are likely to change with ongoing research. Leaf beetles are partially recognizable by their tarsal formula, which appears to be 4-4-4, but is actually 5-5-5 as the fourth tarsal segment is very small and hidden by the third. As with many taxa, no single character defines the Chrysomelidae; instead, the family is delineated by a set of characters. Some lineages are only distinguished with difficulty from longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae), namely by the antennae not arising from frontal tubercles. Adult and larval leaf beetles feed on all sorts of plant tissue. Many are serious pests of cultivated plants, for example the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), the asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi), the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus), the mustard beetle (Phaedon cochleariae) and various flea beetles, and a few act as vectors of plant diseases. Others are beneficial due to their use in biocontrol of invasive weeds. Some Chrysomelidae are conspicuously colored, typically in glossy yellow to red or metallic blue-green hues, and some (especially Cassidinae) have spectacularly bizarre shapes. Thus, they are highly popular among insect collectors.
Leaf beetles, also known as Chrysomelidae, are small to medium-sized insects with bodies that are typically domed and oval in shape. Most species have a metallic luster or multiple colors. They have antennae that are shorter than the length of their head, thorax, and abdomen, with the first segment usually larger than the following ones. Leaf beetles belong to various subfamilies including Bruchinae, Cassidinae, Chrysomelinae, Criocerinae, Cryptocephalinae, Donaciinae, Eumolpinae, Galerucinae, Lamprosomatinae, Sagrinae, Spilopyrinae, and Synetinae. They have diverse diets, with adults often feeding on leaves and flowers, while larvae have different feeding habits such as leaf mining or gall formation. Leaf beetles have various natural enemies, including predators like bugs and wasps, as well as parasitic insects. More information and resources about Chrysomelidae can be found through external links provided.