dogbane beetle

dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus) Photo provided by brm1949/pond5.com

FEATURES
The dogbane beetle has an elongated, oval shape. It has an iridescent blue-green appearance with a copper tinge. The adult is about one-fourth inch in length. The antennae are less than half as long as the body.

BEHAVIORS
The dogbane beetle may be found statewide in Illinois. It lives on dogbane and milkweed plants found in prairies, fields and in other open habitats. The life cycle includes egg, larva, nymph and adult stages. Adults may be found on the leaves and flowers of plants, while the larvae live on the leaves and roots.

​Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Chrysomelidae