This is a leaf eating beetle of the
Chrysomelidae family and has to be one of the prettiest we have.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatpRdluECxmxc9BPacjDQ5t1SxAM3ebPNhOX5QqOkTUqB8-vTAMo17ki9Fkz2aRHLnfSlenDxpgBqF1XqkZp3se1_mOWXw27JxaN-nVd7AC7YZvuNNQLreBaTFV7D3YYpPKw4oPz7JVNU/s320/102_1522.jpg)
It is small, maybe ½ an inch in body length and the difference in color between males and females can clearly be seen in this mating pair.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7TafDxi8mrtv2OkEWeppDS5QSsZZ5-fCsmLsmP8V7YCGCPu0memWUlqD0BPr51NGL14Tit9q837XLIFb6CHU-Tuy-c7o5odDkxXddOttpjOOecxCv3MBiiONxXbTKdIjioXE5oJ5F5FF/s320/102_1528.jpg)
Besides adults eating leaves and flowers, larvae bore into stems and roots.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFJqI24ADBg82QRRVv4AlotwNyTKC8EPy0lQp9NmgRFbkwl371JOdTPNoPZTN4PEi1W5MU4OhAJH2J-tMlgsBYPTKKnEt4D1LTMUnc1lmtK4qiDSYh0GUjprX6mzi3Ai142AsiUv2klzB/s320/102_1534.jpg)
In one of my reference books it holds a dubious record……
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiVxz_AszjutiM2OMfRbqzWkAHtJhkXGfOZAK938TXZ8kVEzjPZpkESOamhl9o-23HyGmEcoHew-AoNmc4RyptstekNjB74blBbsV0CR2_6dmzF00PYdQs1fDFkolPJPVmMTekCYMgJZD/s320/102_1535.jpg)
….during research, it was found that the female of this species mated with various males a record of 60 times.!! LOL!! I wonder who was doing the counting? :)
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