top of page

Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Cerotoma ruficornis
Cerotoma ruficornis

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Leaf Beetles and Allies (Superfamily Chrysomeloidea)

-Leaf Beetles Family (Chrysomelidae)

-Tribe Luperini

-Subtribe Diabroticina

-Genus Cerotoma

-Cerotoma ruficornia


Cerotoma is a genus of beetles within the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as leaf beetles. Many Cerotoma species exhibit bright colors, including yellows, reds and oranges. Adults and larvae of Cerotoma beetles primarily feed on the leaves of their host plants, which can include members of the Brassicaceae (cabbage family) and other plant families.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed primarily on the leaves, flowers, and young pods of legumes (Fabaceae), including beans and other herbaceous legumes.

  • Larvae: Feed mainly on roots and underground portions of host plants.

  • Adults chew small holes in leaves and may cause substantial defoliation when populations are high.

Range

  • Cerotoma ruficornis is distributed through Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

  • It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, including the Pacific slope of Mexico and Guerrero.

  • Suitable habitat in the Zihuatanejo region includes areas supporting wild legumes and cultivated crops.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical deciduous forests, woodland edges, grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens, and secondary vegetation.

  • Adults are commonly found on leguminous plants, particularly their leaves and flowers.

  • Larvae develop in the soil around host-plant roots.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in).

  • Body oval and compact, usually with contrasting dark markings; the reddish antennae reflected in the species name ruficornis ("red-horned") are a useful identifying characteristic.

bottom of page