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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Florida Five-lined Yellow Disonycha
Disonycha quinquelineata

-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)

-Skeletonizing Leaf and Flea Beetles (Subfamily Galerucinae)

-Flea Beetles (Tribe Alticini)

-Subtribe Disonychina

-Genus Disonycha

-Disonycha scriptipennois

-Disonycha quinquelineata


Disonycha quinquelineata, is a species of flea beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae. Like other flea beetles, Disonycha quinquelineata can jump considerable distances when disturbed, using their strong hind legs. They tend to prefer plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), but can also be found on other broadleaf plants.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed primarily on the foliage of passionflowers (Passiflora spp.), chewing characteristic holes in the leaves.

  • Documented host plants include Passiflora suberosa, P. biflora, P. auriculata, and P. ambigua.

  • Larvae: The larval biology is less well documented, but the species is associated with Passiflora and develops in association with its host plants.

Range

  • Disonycha quinquelineata occurs from Mexico through Central America to Panama. Mexican records include Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz.

Habitat

  • Associated with tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland edges, secondary vegetation, gardens, and other habitats where Passiflora vines grow.

  • Adults are commonly found directly on passionflower foliage. A documented observation from San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca shows the beetle on a leaf.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 7.5–10 mm (0.30–0.39 in).

  • The elytra are yellow to yellowish-green with five narrow black longitudinal stripes, while the head, pronotum, and legs are predominantly reddish.

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