Cottonwood Leaf Beetle
Aethiopocassis scripta
The adult cottonwood leaf beetle is a small leaf beetle found on cottonwoods, poplars, and willows in riparian woods, parks, and plantations. It feeds by chewing holes in leaves and can fly between host trees when searching for food or mates. Like the larva, it uses plant-derived chemical defenses that make it unpleasant to many predators. Its pale body with dark markings is a notable warning-like pattern for a beetle that relies on both a hard exoskeleton and chemical protection.
- Type
- Venom
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Cottonwood Leaf Beetle