Chrysomelidae

1-18mm. Antennae filiform, filiform-serrate or gradually and only moderately thickened apically but never clubbed (cf. Coccinellidae, which some species superficially resemble), often distinctly serrate in Bruchinae, not inserted in grooves or pits and not mounted on tubercles (Cerambycidae). Eyes entire except in Bruchinae where they are notched. Head not rostrate (Curculionidae). Elytra covering abdomen except in gravid females of many species and Bruchinae where the pygidium is exposed. Tarsi pseudotetramerous on all legs, the fourth segment usually minute, almost always with some bilobed segments, but see Macroplea.

Recent incorporation of Bruchidae as a subfamily, along with the various distinctive forms included in other subfamilies of Chrysomelidae has prompted us to give a brief description of each so that a broad familiarity can be gained fairly quickly. Most species are brightly coloured or metallic or both and are easily recognised. They will soon appear in the sweep net or beating tray, adults generally from the larval foodplant at sometime during the spring, summer or autumn. A surprising number are to be found in the winter in grass tussocks or under bark or logs e.g. Crepidodera, Plagiodera, Longitarsus and Chaetocnema.

Joy's is variously useful as explained below. The group is covered by Mohr, K.H., 1966 in Vol.9 of Die Kafer Mitteleuropas, updated in 1994 by Kippenberg in Vol.14. Bienkowski's work is very useful but does not cover all our species. Michael Cox's 2007 atlas provides the most recent list of references dealing with the British list.

Two genera formerly included within the Chrysomelidae, Zeugophora and Orsodacne are now raised to family status Megalopodidae and Orsodacnidae respectively.