Diet

• Adults: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves and tender plant tissues. Many species chew small, round holes in leaves, producing the characteristic “shot-hole” damage associated with flea beetles.

• Larvae: Usually feed on roots or other underground plant parts, although the biology varies among species.

• Systena species use a wide variety of host plants, and individual species can have quite different plant associations.

Range

• Systena is a diverse New World genus of flea beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae, tribe Alticini. About 90 species are described, with most occurring in the Neotropics.

• It is frequently sighted in Zihua, particularly where suitable leafy vegetation is abundant. The genus is diverse enough that several different Systena species may potentially occur in the region.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland, scrub, grassland, agricultural areas, gardens and disturbed vegetation.

• Adults are generally found on leaves and stems, particularly young vegetation.

• Around Zihua, check shrubs, herbaceous plants, vines and plants along forest edges and roadsides.

• Their characteristic jumping behaviour can make them easier to detect when vegetation is disturbed.

Size

• Adult length: generally approximately 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in), depending on species.

• Body usually elongate and somewhat oval, with enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping.

• Colouration varies considerably and may include black, brown, yellow, reddish or metallic green, often with stripes, spots or contrasting bands.