Research Training Program

Ainsley Seago
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

Steven Lingafelter, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Systematic Biology
Division of Entomology

"I had a genuinely splendid time collecting and studying beetles, my favorite insects."

A New Species of Crepidodera from Maryland

Of all the insect orders, beetles exhibit the greatest diversity; among beetles, the Chrysomelidae are one of the loveliest in form. Known popularly as "leaf beetles," chrysomelids appear in an enormous range of shapes and colors, often specialized to blend in with the plants upon which they feed. Although many of these beetles play a detrimental role as agricultural pests, there is still a remarkable amount to be learned about the family. Even of this much-studied group there remain unknown and unannounced members. This research focused on flea beetles, chrysomelids of the tribe Alticini. Working with a generous series of suspiciously variable Crepidodera browni, a correlation was discovered between male genitalia shape and elytral color. Through extensive dissection, examination, illustration, and analysis of these traits, presented is a previously unknown species of flea beetle. Discovering and describing new species is one of the most exciting aspects of entomology, even more so when the insect in question is a North American native that has gone unnoticed for years. This minute, iridescent, coppery-bronze beetle has been named Crepidodera praestigiator. C. praestigiator resides in the very backyard of the Smithsonian; the type specimens were found feeding on willow trees in the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Area in Montgomery County, Maryland.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI-9820303.

Letter of Gratitude