Family overview
Small to medium-sized, often metallic or brightly colored. Oval/rounded body. Short legs and short antennae.
Many are major crop pests. Colorado potato beetle drove the first widespread agricultural pesticide use in the 1860s.
At a glance
Family facts.
Distribution
Worldwide
Habitat
Terrestrial · Plants
Approx. species
37,000
Notable members
Colorado potato beetle, flea beetles, cucumber beetles, milkweed leaf beetle