The dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus) is one of the many leaf beetles that are shiny and iridescent. As the name indicates, this beautiful beetle feeds on dogbanes.
Dogbane Beetle
Chrysochus auratus
Family:
Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles)
Description:
The dogbane beetle is one of Missouri's most beautiful insects. Like many other types of leaf beetles, it is shiny and iridescent. As the name indicates, this beautiful beetle feeds on dogbanes, including milkweeds.
Learn more about this and other leaf beetles (chrysomelids) on their group page.
Dogbane_Beetle_Side_6-29-19.jpg
Dogbane Beetle
The dogbane beetle is one of the most beautiful insects in North America.
Similar Species
Leaf Beetles
About 2,000 species in North America
Rainbow Scarab
Phanaeus vindex
Green June Beetle
Cotinis nitida
Tiger Beetles
Subfamily Cicindelinae (about 100 species in North America)
Ground Beetles
About 2,400 species in North America north of Mexico
Emerald Ash Borer
Agrilus planipennis
Delta Flower Scarab
Trigonopeltastes delta
Ninebark Calligraphy Beetle
Calligrapha spiraea
Scarab Beetles
About 1,700 species in North America north of Mexico
American Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus americanus
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.