Leaf Beetle

by

Subject:  Small Beetle – Highly Decorated
Geographic location of the bug:  Northwest Wisconsin
Date: 06/20/2018
Time: 11:57 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This beautiful beetle landed on me while walking in a mixed, mature forest near an open area that had been clearcut logged a couple years back. It’s gorgeous markings were very metallic and it happily explored my hand for awhile allowing us a great look. Neither my husband nor I had ever seen one before. Well! Wouldn’t ya know it that a week later at a beach on the Southern shore of Lake Superior there was another, though this individual did not seem as brilliant as the first.
Would love to know what it is and thank you very much for this fabulous site which my sister discovered and recommended.
How you want your letter signed:  Critter-Loving Lady

Leaf Beetle: Calligrapha species

Dear Critter-Loving Lady,
This is a Leaf Beetle in the genus Calligrapha, and there are many similar looking species.  Your individual might be Calligrapha rhoda which is picture on BugGuide where it states:  “host: Corylus (hazel).”

Leaf Beetle: Calligrapha species
Hello Daniel Marlos,
Wow! Your reply is about a zillion times faster than anticipated and very much appreciated. Thank you. Can’t wait to explore the data on this genus as well as peruse your excellent site. Truly a treasure it is.
By the way, it made me extremely happy to see What’s That Bug site posts that it is NOT in support of extermination. I’m working very hard to undo any sneaky, lingering crappy mindsets I have about all insects around me. Learning to appreciate, admire and even love their presence has deeply enriched my day to day experiences, though I still struggle when a group happily gangs up in a forage-fest on something I’m also hoping to eat. A lecture of, “Hey! Let’s share everyone!” has so far been pretty ineffectual.
Have a most wonderful day.
Critter-Loving Lady

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