Subfamily Cryptocephalinae - The Casebearers

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Black & red beetle - Babia quadriguttata

Clay-colored Leaf Beetle - Anomoea laticlavia

Little yellow casebearer - Pachybrachis pusillus

cryptocephaline - Griburius undetermined

Diplacaspis prosternalis (Schaeffer) - Diplacaspis prosternalis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Long-horned and Leaf Beetles)

Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Subfamily Cryptocephalinae (The Casebearers)

Other Common Names

Cylindrical leaf beetles

Explanation of Names

Crypto= Hidden. Cephalon= Head. The head is hidden by the prothorax.

Numbers

At least 345 species in 22 genera in America north of Mexico. (1)

Size

Minute to small sized beetles.

Identification

Compact, subcylindrical to subglobose. Head inserted into the prothorax.

Habitat

Larvae live in litter on the soil surface. (1) Or on the leaves they feed on and drop to the ground when threatened (2).

Food

Larvae are mostly detritivorous; a small number consume green leaves. (1)

Life Cycle

As far as known, the larval stages are all casebearers, living in and protected by a case constructed of their fecal matter and sometimes plant debris. The case is shorter than the larva that remains folded inside it. (1)

Remarks

Chrysomelids with long, slender antennae belong to Cryptocephalinae, however, not all Cryptocephalinae have such antennae (3)

Internet References

Auburn University.

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

2.	Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects By Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn

3.	Coleoptera or Beetles East of the Great Plains By Edwards, J. Gordon

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 27 March, 2005 - 6:22pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 24 January, 2010 - 10:01am

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