Media

Scientific Name
Chrysochus auratus
Family
Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles)
Description
The dogbane beetle is one of Missouri's most beautiful insects. Like many other types of leaf beetles, it is shiny and iridescent. As the name indicates, this beautiful beetle feeds on dogbanes, including milkweeds.
Learn more about this and other leaf beetles (chrysomelids) on their group page.
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Media Gallery
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Caption
The dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus) is one of the many leaf beetles that are shiny and iridescent. As the name indicates, this beautiful beetle feeds on dogbanes.
Credit
Julianna Schroeder
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
Image

Caption
The dogbane beetle is one of the most beautiful insects in North America.
Credit
Julianna Schroeder
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
Image

Credit
MDC
Right to Use
Photo by MDC, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.