The Chrysomelinae are a subfamily of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), commonly known as broad-bodied leaf beetles or broad-shouldered leaf beetles. It includes some 3,000 species around the world.
The best-known member is the notorious Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), an important agricultural pest.
Description
Adults of Chrysomelinae are beetles with the following features: antennae inserted on or adjacent to anterior edge of head; inner face of each mandible with large membranous prostheca; each wing with only one anal cell (sometimes the wings are reduced or absent); metendosternite lateral arms without lobes; femora without internal spring sclerite; tibial spurs absent; tarsi without bifid setae; stridulatory mechanism absent; male aedeagus without tegminal ring and the testes not fused within a common membrane; female kotpresse absent. In terms of general appearance, the body is convex, round or oval, and often brightly coloured. The colours and patterns may vary even within a species. Flightless species (at least in the Australian chrysomeline fauna) tend to be small and dark, and also nocturnal.
Larvae can be recognised by: 6 pairs of stemmata on the head; labial palpi 2-segmented; mandibles palmate; labrum freely articulated; annular spiracles; legs present, with paronychial appendix and pretarsus; not in a transportable case.
Both adults and larvae have glands that secrete chemicals to defend against predators.
