Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001716
11/12/99
Leaf beetles
This is one of the largest plant feeding families of
beetles, with more than 2,000 species found in North
America. Adult beetles are often brightly colored or
metallic and 3 to 12 mm long. Leaf beetle larvae are
soft-bodied and pigmented and usually feed on plant leaves
along with the adults. Feeding damage by the more
important landscape plant pests appears as patches of
skeletonized leaf tissue where the beetles have eaten away
all the plant tissue except the upper leaf epidermis.
Several species of leaf beetles can feed on trees and
shrubs. Extensive feeding damage is usually preceded by
small holes cut into leaves by the adult beetles or small
areas of skeletonized feeding injuries made by adults or
young larvae. By watching trees for these indications,
you can anticipate the need to make an insecticide
treatment before serious damage has occurred.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our
disclaimer for important
information about using our site.