These enlarged femora allow for the springing action of these insects when disturbed. Flea beetles can also walk normally and fly. Many flea beetles are attractively coloured; dark, shiny and often metallic colors predominate.
Well that fits , as they where springing all over the place , just like a flea does and not much bigger in size ..i have been to the same area over the past 2-3 weeks and they are all the same size , they don't get bigger. Will update and change info now ..thanks Martin ....i was just going off TonyT's site :)
This one is actually distinctive by having large hind legs. Ditropidus sp. have the same, or deeper 'V' shape of the trailing edge of the pronotum but belong to Cryptocephalinae (subfamily) Yours belongs to the flea beetles (Galerucinae) in the tribe Alticini http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_beetle... This placement is based on the large legs. There are over 60 genera and tribe = Alticini might be as close as you get with these without a microscope and PhD. Please study my suggestion and decide if you agree.
I am passionate about paropsine leaf beetles but slightly terrified to study this group :(
5 Comments
Yep interesting link. It starts... :-)
Now i wish i had more photos and side views....found this discussion Martin :).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zosterops/...
These enlarged femora allow for the springing action of these insects when disturbed. Flea beetles can also walk normally and fly. Many flea beetles are attractively coloured; dark, shiny and often metallic colors predominate.
Well that fits , as they where springing all over the place , just like a flea does and not much bigger in size ..i have been to the same area over the past 2-3 weeks and they are all the same size , they don't get bigger. Will update and change info now ..thanks Martin ....i was just going off TonyT's site :)
This one is actually distinctive by having large hind legs.
Ditropidus sp. have the same, or deeper 'V' shape of the trailing edge of the pronotum but belong to Cryptocephalinae (subfamily)
Yours belongs to the flea beetles (Galerucinae) in the tribe Alticini http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_beetle...
This placement is based on the large legs.
There are over 60 genera and tribe = Alticini might be as close as you get with these without a microscope and PhD.
Please study my suggestion and decide if you agree.
I am passionate about paropsine leaf beetles but slightly terrified to study this group :(
It's amazing how many of these look exactly the same except for size. I think there's dozens of species.