Leptinotarsa haldemani explained

Leptinotarsa haldemani, commonly known as Haldeman's green potato beetle, is a glossy green-colored species of beetle in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae. It was named in honour of Samuel Stehman Haldeman, a 19th-century American entomologist who collected insect specimens in Texas.

Description

This small beetle has a black head, antennae, thorax, and legs. Its general body shape is domed and the elytra are usually deep metallic green, but sometimes metallic purple or blue.^[1]

Distribution

This species is found in Mexico, Central America, and the US states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.^[2]

Host plants

This beetle is found on members of the family Solanaceae including wild species of Physalis, Solanum douglasii, and the Anderson thornbush, Lycium andersonii.^[3] It is also occasionally found on potatoes.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Leptinotarsa haldemani Rogers, 1856. Bug Guide. February 26, 2011.
2. Riley, E.G., S.M. Clark, & T.N. Seeno. 2003. Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 1, 290 pp.
3. Donald C. Weber . Daniel L. Rowley . Matthew H. Greenstone . Michael M. Athanas . Prey preference and host suitability of the predatory and parasitoid carabid beetle, Lebia grandis, for several species of Leptinotarsa beetles. Insect Biocontrol Laboratory. Beltsville, MD.
4. Clark, S.M., D.G. LeDoux, T.N. Seeno, E.G. Riley, A.J. Gilbert and J.M. Sullivan. 2004. Host plants of leaf beetle species occurring in the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae, Chrysomelidae exclusive of Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 2, 476 pp.