top of page

Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Disonycha trifasciata
Disonycha trifasciata

-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 trifasciata


Disonycha trifasciata, commonly known as the three-banded flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The beetle is usually characterized by its shiny black body, adorned with three distinct white bands running across its elytra (the hardened forewings). Disonycha trifasciata is known for its impressive jumping ability, which it uses to escape predators.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed on leaves and tender plant tissues, producing the small holes characteristic of flea-beetle feeding.

  • Larvae: The larval biology of D. trifasciata is poorly documented, but larvae of Disonycha generally feed on plant tissues and may occur on or around the roots of host plants.

Range

  • Disonycha trifasciata is a Neotropical flea beetle occurring in Mexico and Central America. Its documented Mexican range includes southern Mexico

Habitat

  • Associated with tropical and subtropical vegetation, including forest edges, secondary vegetation and other areas supporting suitable host plants.

  • The species is likely to occur on low vegetation and foliage, where adults feed and use their powerful hind legs to escape predators.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in).

  • Small, compact beetle with the enlarged hind femora characteristic of flea beetles (Alticini).

bottom of page