Cedar Creek
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DONACIINAE
Members of this Subfamily are aquatic, their larvae tapping the submerged
stems of host plants both for food and oxygen. The elongate, metallic adults
are abundant on Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) and commonly seen
on lily pads or shoreline vegetation. Genera collected include Donacia
(5 spp--distinctus, cincticornis, aequalis,
piscatrix,
rufescens?),
Plateumaris
(3 spp--emarginata, flavipes,
rufa?).
Sominella
harrisi and Neohaemonia
nigricornis? also collected. Of these: P. emarginata
is the common blue-black species found on marsh marigold near Cedar Bog
Lake. D. piscatrix,
D. cincticornis, and N.
nigricornis occur on lily pads on Fish Lake. More work is required
to verify identities, as well as establish habitat and host relationships
of these species.
ORSODACNINAE
Orsodacne atra is a polymorphic
species found on Salix in Minnesota. Not collected at Cedar Creek.
SYNETINAE
Syneta
ferruginea is an uncommon species in savanna (Host: Quercus?).
ZEUGOPHORINAE
Zeugophora
puberula?
and Z. varians? have been taken from
Salix
and
Populus
respectively.
CLYTRINAE
Coscinoptera
dominicana (host--leadplant?) is found on a variety of plants,
often oak in savanna habitat. Anomoea
laticlavia is another species reported to feed on legumes,
but I find it most frequently on choke cherry. It has been taken in small
numbers from a variety of fields, but only on even numbered years. Babia
quadripunctata occurs in Minnesota, but has as yet not been collected
on Cedar Creek.
CHLAMISINAE
Exema
canadensis is infrequently collected from Solidago canadensis
and S. gigantea in fields. Neochlamisus
(3+spp--chamaedaphnes,
bebbianae, eubati, alni?) are dark brassy colored
and resemble caterpillar frass. Larvae construct a case from their
own excrement and feed on foliage. N. chamaedaphnes feeds on leatherleaf
(Chamaedaphne) in Beckman Lake Bog and is frequently parasitized
by a large Chalcidoid. N. eubati occurs on Rosa and Rubus
in field situations, and N. bebbianae? is often common on hazel
(Corylus). The few individuals found on alder and dogwood may be
different species or accidentals.
CRYPTOCEPHALINAE
Species of Pachybrachis
are common and widespread but occur most abundantly in xeric, bluestem,
and burned prairie habitats. This is a very large genus with over 150 NA
species having casebearing larvae. Perhaps eight species have been
collected, but they have not been regularly differentiated. The following
ID's are tentative. The most common are P. BK (carbonarius--Lespedeza)
and P. B/W (2 different species?--femoratus?, spumarius?
on Rumex, Rosa). P. morosus is larger black
and hairy and has been taken from hazel. P. BK/RD (P. trinotatus?)
is found in little bluestem fields. Smaller numbers of P. luridus?,
P. othonus?, and P. 'gargantua' also collected.
See Photo Album. Perhaps five species of Cryptocephalus
have been collected. C. notatus 4-maculatus (Fragaria)
been collected sparingly in a few fields. C. calidus (Asteraceae)
is common in a variety of fields in mid-summer. C. mutabilis
(Prunus) is an uncommon species of savanna and open woodland. C.
quadruplex?
(sumac) and C. tinctus?
have also been collected. Lexiphanes
saponatus (medium), Diachus
auratus (small) and Triachus
sp (tiny) are three relatively uncommon species collected in
this subfamily. The genus
Bassareus is found in Minnesota
but has not been collected at Cedar Creek.
CRIOCERINAE
Lema
collaris is common on its host spiderwort (Tradescantia)
in the burned fields in the SE part of CCESR. Lema
trilineata has been collected sparingly from Ground Cherry
(Physalis) in several fields where its host is present. Crioceris
12-punctata and Crioceris
asparagi have been found on wild growing Asparagus.
GALERUCINAE
Trirhabda
canadensis is common on its host plant Solidago canadensis,
S. gigantea, and S. missouriensis in several fields. Trirhabda
adela is an uncommon species found on its host Helianthusrigidus
in MEM. Trirhabda virgata
possibly collected. Galeruca
browni is common on its host Arabis divaricarpa in dry-weedy
fields. Diabrotica
11-punctata
and
Diabrotica
barberi are fairly common in weedy Poa fields in late
summer. Acalymma
vittata and Acalymma
trivittata are two uncommon species. Ophraella
(5 spp--artemisieae, cribrata, conferta,
communa,
notata)
and Pyrrhalta
(4 spp--decora, quebecensis, nymphaea, alni)
are a confusing group of small brown chrysomelids. I thank Doug Futuyma
(Univ. of NY, Stonybrook) for determining these species. O. artemisieae
is common to abundant on its host Artemisia ludoviciana. O. cribrata
and O. communa are uncommon species of prairie. O. conferta
(Helianthus giganteus) and O. notata (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
occur in wet situations. P. decora is common on willow (Salix),
and P. nymphaea is found on lily pads. Few specimens of the other
two species of Pyrrhalta have been collected. Cerotoma
trifurcata (Amphicarpa) and Phyllobrotica
limbata? (host--Scutellaria?) are two uncommon field
species. The Elm Leaf Beetle, Xanthogaleruca
luteola, has been collected near here. Minnesota genera
in this Subfamily not represented at CCESR include: Monoxia,
Scelolyperus.
CHRYSOMELINAE
The genus Calligrapha
(7+spp--alni, elegans, praecelsis,
multipunctata,
scalaris,
rhoda,
rowena)
contains the robust ovoid forms one readily recognizes as a Chrysomelid.
These species are most common in woodlands. Hosts are:
C. elegans
(Bidens),
C. praecelsis (xx),
C. scalaris
(Betula),
C. alni (Alnus),
C. multipunctata
(Salix),
C. rhoda (Corylus),
C. rowena
(Cornus alternifolia). None appear to be very abundant. Searching
a Pagoda Dogwood or Hazel Bush would result in 0-2 individuals being found.
Entomoscelis
americana is common on its host Berteroa incana in weedy
fields in early summer and again in late fall. Zygogramma
exclamationis has been taken in small numbers primarily from
weedy-brome fields (host??). Labidomera
clivicollis is occasionally found on its host, Asclepias
incarnata, in marshy environs. Leptinotarsa
decemlineata can find a potato patch wherever one plants it.
Chrysomela
(Lina) interrupta (Alnus) and Chrysomela
(Lina) scripta (Salix) are two common to abundant species
of shrub-carr. Plagiodera
versicolora (ovoid cyaneus) can be common on Salix and
Phratora
purpurea? (elongate purple) on aspen (Populus tremuloides).
Hydrothassa
vittata is an uncommon black-and-yellow striped species found
on
Caltha palustris.
Gastrophysa
polygoni is an uncommon species found on bindweed (Polygonum).
Minnesota genera in this Subfamily not collected at CCESR include: Gonioctena,
Phaedon, and Prasocuris.
EUMOLPINAE
Larvae of this subfamily are primarily root-feeders, but adults are
routinely taken on the host plant. Conspicuous but infrequently collected
is the metallic-green Dogbane Leaf Beetle, Chrysochus
auratus. Colaspis
suilla-borealis (host ??) is a common mid-summer species collected
from a variety of fields. Graphops
pubescens is taken in small numbers from its host Oenothera
spp. Paria
canellus + varieties is found in a few fields containing its
host strawberry (Fragaria).
Metachroma
(2+spp--angustulum, laevicolle?) are two uncommon
species that appear associated with prairie willow and sumac. Some forms
are dark and others are pale. Seldom encountered species include: Rhabdopterus
picipes (Vitis?) and Brachypnoea
puncticollis (Rosa). Minnesota genera in this
Subfamily not represented at CCESR include: Xanthonia,
Fidia, Colaspidea, Glyptoscelis, Tymes, and Bromius.
ALTICINAE
This large group of Flea Beetles has given me taxonomic headaches.
Blepharida
rhois (host--sumac) is fairly common on smooth sumac in ecotonal
regions. Members of the genus Disonycha(4+spp--latifrons,
triangularis,
xanthomelas,
crenicollis?,
pennsylvanica?)
are large, strikingly marked, and fairly common. D. latifrons
occurs on Solidago rigida, D. triangularis on Rumex,
D.
crenicollis? on Salix,
D. xanthomelas on Chenopodium.
The genus Oedionychus
(species with globose swellings on
their hind tarsi) is now divided into Kuschelina
and Capraita.
Four species have been collected. O. (Capraita) with three
species (thyamoides,
circumdata?,
scalaris?)
are infrequently collected. Only O. thyamoides is regularly
taken in SYS, host unknown. O. (Kuschelina) gibbitarsa is
a large blue-and-red species found on Menthe?. Altica
(4+spp--chalybea, fuscoaenea, ignita?,
carinata?)
are small dark species. A. chalybea is a blue species found
on Vitis. A. fuscoaenea is sometimes common on its
host Oenothera. A. ignita? (host xx) is seldom collected.
A.
carinata? is a metallic red species collected only from dry prairie
(POT).
Perhaps five species of Chaetocnema
have been collected from CCESR old fields. This genus feeds primarily on
legumes, but species have not been regularly differentiated. Tentative
ID's include C. cribata,
C. protensa,
C.
confinis, C. cribrifrons, C. parcepunctata. They
are taken in small numbers from a variety of fields. Three species of Systena
have been collected sparingly: vis. S. elongata
(host--Vicia), S. frontalis (host--Chenopodium?),
and
S.hudsonias (host--xx). Hypolampsis
mellyi? (host--?Sporobolus) has been collected
primarily from xeric fields in midsummer. It is a hairy species with globose
swellings on its hind tarsi.
Psylliodes
punctulata? (host--Trifolium?) has been collected from
a few fields. Seldom encountered species include:
Aphthona
sp,
Epitrix spp,
Crepidodera
sp, Longitarsus
spp,
Mantura floridana?,
Phyllotreta
spp, and Dibolia
spp.
Minnesota genera in this Subfamily not collected at CCESR include: Orthaltica...
CASSIDINAE
The Tortoise Beetles generally specialize on the Convolvulaceae
and have only been infrequently collected. Chelymorpha
cassidea was collected from CBLr and SWE; Charidiotella
bicolor and Agroiconota
bivittata from CBLr: Jonthonota
nigripes from CBLr and Deloyala
guttata?? from PMS and RC. All these fields contain Morning
Glory.
Plagiometriona clavata
has been collected near here. Other Minnesota representatives of
this Subfamily are ?Gratiana pallidula?
and Physonota
unipunctata.
HISPINAE
These beetles are leaf-miners as larvae. Microrhopala
vittata (host--Solidago) is an uncommon species of prairie
(CNW,CSW,TMG). Microrhopala
? cyanea (host--Helianthus rigidus) has been
taken from dry prairie (MEM,RSE,RSW). Microrhopala excavata
has been taken from Solidago canadensis in TMG. Odontota
dorsalis (host--Desmodium) has been taken in TMG. Odontota
scapularis is common on its host Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea
bracteata) in savanna and woods. Anisostena
nigrita? has been collected from RC and in small numbers in
savanna regions. A few individuals of Brachycoryna
sp. have been collected from CNW and HAS. Sumitrosis
rosea (host--Ribes, Laportea?), Sumitrosis
inaequalis (host--legumes?), and Baliosus
nervosa (host--Tilia) are uncommon woodland species.
webmaster@cedarcreek.umn.edu | Last updated March 2001 |