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Post by mantisdragon on Jul 4, 2015 7:34:14 GMT -8
What are these little beetles? they look like ticks, but obviously are not ticks. They are eating the leaf in the picture and there were tons of them eating the tree they were on. Please help identify them, thanks! Click the picture to see it larger. Location, Maryland. Attachments:
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Post by bandrow on Jul 4, 2015 8:36:55 GMT -8
Greetings, These are a species of leaf beetle, in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Hispinae, and the species is Odontota dorsalis. The common name is the 'locust leaf miner' and it can be abundant on black locust in summer. Despite the devastation it causes to locust trees, it doesn't seem to have a lasting affect on the trees. Most of their feeding takes place after the leaves have fully developed, so long term damage is minimal. They do cling tight to anything they rest upon - not unlike a tick  Cheers! Bandrow |
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Post by mantisdragon on Jul 4, 2015 12:08:37 GMT -8
Thanks so much for identifying it!
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