Texas Beetle Resources

Return to Texas Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn

Pachybrachis of Texas - Family Chrysomelidae

There are 59 spp. of Pachybrachis in Texas (Riley et al. 2003) plus numerous more undescribed spp.
Over 80 Pachybrachis spp. from Texas and surrounding states are shown here.
Seven spp. are possibly endemic to Texas.
Specimens primarily shot from the ERGC, OSUC, TAMUIC, TORC and the UTIC collections

Pachy identification is complicated by a generally high level of intraspecific variation in color,
and to some extent, in sculpture. Also, most species show strong sexual dimorphism. (Riley et al. 2002)

Pubescent - Yellow - Striped - Dark - Mottled - Rio Grande - Morpho spp. - Adjacent States - Need - References

Pubescent Species (Fall's Group A) - Only morosus occurs e. of TX

Pachybrachis morosus Haldeman - e. US to AZ - on Oaks (Syn: haematodes)

Pachybrachis morosus Haldeman - Pachybrachis morosus

Pachybrachis haematodes Suffrian - Pachybrachis morosus

Pachybrachis thoracicus Jacoby - CA-TX, NV / Mex. - short series reported from willow

Pachybrachis thoracicus Jacoby - Pachybrachis thoracicus

Pachybrachis marmoratus Jacoby - AZ to w. TX, CO / Mex - several recorded on various Asteraceae

Pachybrachis marmoratus Jacoby - Pachybrachis marmoratus

Pachybrachis brunneus Bowditch - CA-TX-CO-UT - short series coll'ed from Salix in AZ

Pachybrachis brunneus Bowditch - Pachybrachis brunneus

Pachybrachis integratus Fall - CA to sw TX - asso. w/ willow (Salix, Salicaeae)

Pachybrachis integratus Fall - Pachybrachis integratus

Pachybrachis xanti Crotch - CA to w. TX, UT / Mex. - saltbush - Atriplex (Chenopodiaceae) and creosote

Slightly pubescent, pale sp. from Brewster Co.

Yellow Species (Fall's Group B) - All have western distributions

Pachybrachis abdominalis (Say) - AZ-TX-MB-AB - recorded from multiple plant families

Pachybrachis abdominalis (Say) - Pachybrachis abdominalis - female

Pachybrachis arizonensis Bowditch - CA-TX, KS, UT - coll'ed from Salix

Pachybrachis arizonensis Bowditch - Pachybrachis arizonensis

Pachybrachis caelatus LeConte - CA-TX-SD-ID - most records from Asteraceae

Pachybrachis caelatus LeConte - Pachybrachis caelatus - male

Pachybrachis diversus Fall - NM-TX-IL-SD, FL - Normally asso. w/ willow, Salix, but also on Baccharis and Heterotheca

Pachybrachis diversus Fall - Pachybrachis diversus

Pachybrachis immaculatus Jacoby - CA-TX (IA, IL ?) / Mex. - on Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) in Mex.

Pachybrachis immaculatus Jacoby - Pachybrachis immaculatus

Pachybrachis jacobyi Bowditch - CA-TX-SD-UT - Reported from several herbacious plant families.

Pachybrachis macronychus Fall - w. TX - Asso. w/ Mexican pinon pine

Pachybrachis macronychus Fall - Pachybrachis macronychus

Pachybrachis mellitus Bowditch - CA-TX-UT-NV - hosts on Creosote Bush

Pachybrachis minor Bowditch - CA to w. TX / Mex. - Ericameria and Hymenoclea (Asteraceae) appear to be hosts

Pachybrachis mitis Fall - Texas endemic? - pale, lightly blotched, ~2 mm - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis, Fabaceae)

Pachybrachis nero Bowditch - AZ to w. TX - asso. w/ snakeweed - Gutierrezia spp. (Asteraceae)

Pachybrachis pusillus Bowditch - AZ to c. TX / Mex. - eyes bulge, nearly touch - possibly on mesquite

Pachybrachis pusillus Bowditch - Pachybrachis pusillus

Pachybrachis umbraculatus Suffrian - AZ to w. TX / Mex. - one adult collected from Baccharis in AZ

Pachybrachis umbraculatus Suffrian - Pachybrachis umbraculatus

Pachybrachis xantholucens Fall - NM to w. TX - beaten or swept from creosote bush - Larrea tridentata

Pachybrachis xantholucens Fall - Pachybrachis xantholucens

Striped Species (Fall's Group D)

Pachybrachis bivittatus (Say) - CA-GA-QC-BC / Mex. - Hosts on Salix, Populus (Salicaceae)

Pachybrachis bivittatus (Say) - Pachybrachis bivittatus

Pachybrachis dubiosus LeConte - NM-TX-KS-CO / Mex. - Found feeding on Baccharis foliage.
Median thoracic stripe bifurcate in front, but does not tough the lateral stripes.

Pachybrachis dubiosus LeConte - Pachybrachis dubiosus

Pachybrachis nigricornis autolycus Fall - AZ-TX-IL-MT / adj. CAN - Large series coll'ed from Desmodium (Fabaceae)

Pachybrachis nigricornis autolycus Fall - Pachybrachis nigricornis

Pachybrachis othonus (Say) - TX-GA-ME-ND / adj Can. - recorded from many plant families

Pachybrachis othonus (Say) - Pachybrachis othonus

Pachybrachis othonus pallidipennis Suffrian - TX-LA-SK-AB

Pachybrachis othonus pallidipennis Suffrian - Pachybrachis othonus

Pachybrachis othonus othonus ? - Pachybrachis othonus - male

Pachybrachis pawnee Fall - Great Plains - coll'ed from dock - Rumex (Polygonaceae)

Pachybrachis pawnee Fall - Pachybrachis pawnee

Pachybrachis vau Fall - AZ-TX-SD-ID / AB - reported from var. Asteraceae

Pachybrachis vau Fall - Pachybrachis vau

Pachybrachis viduatus (Fabricius) - TX-FL-NC - hosts on St. John's-Wort, Hypericum tenuifolium (Clusiaceae). only known TX record from Tyler, TX.

Pachybrachis virgatus LeConte - TX-MO-SD-CO - median stripe dilated, but not bifurcate anteriorly - single spmn coll'ed from Polygonum (Polygonaceae)

Dark Species (Fall's Group E)

Pachybrachis cruentus LeConte - Endemic to Texas - Adults on Live Oaks

Pachybrachis cruentus LeConte - Pachybrachis cruentus

Pachybrachis hector Fall - TX-KS - Coll'ed from blooming Acacia

Pachybrachis hector Fall - Pachybrachis hector

Pachybrachis femoratus (Olivier) - TX-FL-NY-IN - Reported from a variety of hosts (commonly coll'ed in Alabama)

Pachybrachis hepaticus (F. E. Melsheimer) - CA-FL-ME-ID / adj. Can. / Mex. to C. Amer. - Coll'ed from a varity of plants.

Pachybrachis hepaticus (Melsheimer) - Pachybrachis hepaticus

Pachybrachis hepaticus (F. E. Melsheimer) - Pachybrachis hepaticus

Pachybrachis impurus Suffrian - sc US to e. TX - two spmns labeled from MO in asso. w/ persimmon - Diospyros virginiana (Ebenaceae)

Pachybrachis impurus Suffrian - Pachybrachis impurus

Pachybrachis luridus (Fabricius) - AZ-FL-NY-MT / ON-QC - sp. complex w/ about four spp. in TX. - Asso. w/ Baptisia, Amorpha, Desmodium plus other plant families. (One of the most commonly coll'ed Pachy spp. in Alabama)

Pachybrachis luridus (Fabricius) - Pachybrachis luridus - male

Pachybrachis luridus (Fabricius) - Pachybrachis luridus - female

chrysomelid on Ceanothus americanus - Pachybrachis luridus

Chrysomelidae, dorsal - Pachybrachis luridus

Chrysomelidae, lateral - Pachybrachis luridus

Pachybrachis nigricornis (Say) - TX-FL-QC-AB - Recorded from Legumes and other plant families

Pachybrachis nigricornis (Say) - Pachybrachis nigricornis

Pachybrachis nigricornis difficilis Fall - mostly w. NA (AZ-TX-QC-BC)

Pachybrachis nigricornis difficilis Fall - Pachybrachis nigricornis

Pachybrachis stygicus Fall - TX-FL-NC-SD (Syn: vestigialis, very similar to P. atomarius, which occurs in OK-AR, e. N. Amer.)

Pachybrachis vestigialis Fall - Pachybrachis vestigialis

Pachybrachis vestigialis Fall - Pachybrachis stygicus

Pachybrachis turgidicollis Fall - NM to w. TX - Type - brown with yellow marks, eyes close, stocky ('swollen neck')

Pachybrachis turgidicollis Fall - Pachybrachis turgidicollis

Pachybrachis varians Bowditch - TX-AL-TN-OK

Pachybrachis varians Bowditch - Pachybrachis varians

Pachybrachis wenzeli Fall - AZ to w. TX - Type - on oak (and Mimosa) based on just two spmns.

see also Pachybrachis atomarius (Melsheimer) - e NA (but no TX records)

see also Pachybrachis subvittatus LeConte - NM to c. TX (panhandle to s. TX)

Mottled Species

Pachybrachis brevicollis LeConte - Rocky Mtn states: MT, CO, w. TX - possibly on Sumac - Rhus glabra

Pachybrachis brevicollis LeConte - Pachybrachis brevicollis

Pachybrachis brevicornis Fall - Mostly south Texas - Collected from Prosopis glandulosa (Fabaceae)

Pachybrachis brevicornis Fall - Pachybrachis brevicornis

Pachybrachis bullatus Fall - AZ, w. TX - 2 spmns ex. silverleaf oak

Pachybrachis bullatus Fall - Pachybrachis bullatus - male

Pachybrachis bullatus Fall - Pachybrachis bullatus

Pachybrachis delumbis Fall - w. TX

Pachybrachis delumbis Fall - Pachybrachis delumbis

Pachybrachis gracillipes Fall - w. TX - plant asso. not reported

Pachybrachis gracilipes Fall - Pachybrachis gracilipes

Pachybrachis laevis Bowditch - AZ-TX-CO-NV, SD - Small, yellow. polished, elytral punctations in lines. May be asso. w/ Prosopis.

Pachybrachis latithorax Clavareau - se. AZ; s. TX to C. Amer., (BG records from San Patricia & Cameron Co.) - Coll'ed from Acacia and Leucaena (Fabaceae).

Pachybrachis latithorax Clavareau - Pachybrachis latithorax

Pachybrachis mobilis Fall - s. CA to w. TX, CO - plant asso. not reported

Pachybrachis mobilis Fall - Pachybrachis mobilis

Pachybrachis obsoletus Suffrian, 1852 - NM-FL-NB-BC - reported from a variety of plant families

Pachybrachis obsoletus Suffrian - Pachybrachis obsoletus

Pachybrachis peccans Suffrian - NM-FL-NS-YK - reported from Salix and many other families

Casebearer Beetle - Pachybrachis peccans

Pachybrachis pectoralis (F. E. Melsheimer) - TX-FL-NY-NE / adj Can., BG record from College Station - eyes nearly touch - multiple host families reported

Pachybrachis postfasciatus Fall - AZ, TX, KS - brown on pale background, subapical lateral band across the elytra. asso. w/ whitethorn acacia

Pachybrachis spumarius Suffrian - TX-FL-QC-MB, n. TX October (Most commonly coll'ed Pachy in Alabama) - reported from many plant families

Pachybrachis spumarius Suffrian - Pachybrachis spumarius

Case Bearer - Pachybrachis spumarius - male

Pachybrachis signatus Bowditch 1909 - CA to c. TX - Adults coll'ed off Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae)

Pachybrachis signatus Bowditch - Pachybrachis signatus

Pachybrachis sonorensis Jacoby - CA to w. TX - Host(s) unknown

Pachybrachis sonorensis Jacoby - Pachybrachis sonorensis

Pachybrachis subvittatus LeConte - NM to c. TX (panhandle to s. TX) - variable and sexually dimorphic, males pale, females dark

Pachybrachis subvittatus LeConte - Pachybrachis subvittatus

Pachybrachis subvittatus J. L. LeConte - Pachybrachis subvittatus

Pachybrachis texanus Bowditch - c. TX to Mex. - bulging eyes nearly touch - on Huisache and Texas Ebony

Pachybrachis texanus Bowditch - Pachybrachis texanus

Pachybrachis texanus Bowditch - Pachybrachis texanus - female

Pachybrachis turbidus LeConte - Great Plains to s. TX - on Oaks - one of the most common spp. in Texas

Pachybrachis turbidus LeConte - Pachybrachis turbidus - male

Pachybrachis turbidus LeConte - Pachybrachis turbidus

Case-bearing Leaf Beetle? - Pachybrachis turbidus

Pachybrachis tridens (F. E. Melsheimer) - TX-FL-QC-MB - hosts on poison ivy

Case-bearing Leaf Beetle - Pachybrachis tridens

Beetle: 2012.05.22.24828 - Pachybrachis tridens

Pachybrachis tridens (F. E. Melsheimer) - Pachybrachis tridens

Pachybrachis sp. - Val Verde Co.

Restricted to Southmost Texas

Pachybrachis duryi Fall - Sabal Palm Grove only - Many adults coll'ed from Leucaena (Fabaceae)

Pachybrachis duryi Fall - Pachybrachis duryi

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 2) - Sabal Palm Grove

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 6) - Sabal Palm Grove, on Texas ebony.

Numbered Morpho Species

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 19) - w. to c. Texas

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 19) - Pachybrachis

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 37) - Travis Co.
?

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 136) - s. TX to OK (+?) - one spmn from Juniperus

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 136) - Pachybrachis

Pachybrachis sp. (EGR 141) - Brazos Co.
?

Pachybrachis (TOR 7) - w. Texas

Pachybrachis (TOR sp. #7) - Pachybrachis

Pachybrachis sp. - c. to n. Texas

Pachybrachis from North Central Texas - Pachybrachis

Species Recorded From Adjacent States

Pachybrachis cephalicus Fall - mostly coastal e. US states to LA

Pachybrachis - Pachybrachis cephalicus - male

Pachybrachys fuscipes Fall - AZ-NM

Pachybrachis fuscipes Fall - Pachybrachis fuscipes

Pachybrachis deceptor Riley & Barney - no TX record, but occurs in OK, AR, LA, e. N. Amer.

Pachybrachis deceptor Riley & Barney - Pachybrachis deceptor

Pachybrachis subfasciatus (LeConte) - no TX records, but known from OK, AR, LA, e. N. Amer. - Recorded from Juglans, Ulmus

Case-bearing Leaf Beetle - Pachybrachis subfasciatus

Pachybrachis subfasciatus (J. E. LeConte) - Pachybrachis subfasciatus

Pachybrachis trinotatus (Melsheimer) - e. N. Amer. to OK - Baptisia (Fabaceae)

Pachybrachis trinotatus (Melsheimer) - Pachybrachis trinotatus - female

Pachybrachis coloradensis Bowditch - pale sp. with prominent punctations - Rocky Mtns to NM

Pachybrachis confusus Bowditch - dark, mottled sp. - e. US to LA

Need BugGuide Photos For These Mostly Trans-Pecos Species

Pachybrachis calidus Fall - AZ-TX / Mex. - Type - similar to brevicornis - Recorded from Acacia, Prosopis, Quercus.

Pachybrachis delumbis Fall - Texas endemic? - Type - similar to brevicornis, but much smaller, ~2 mm. TL: Davis Mtns.

Pachybrachis fractus Fall - Texas endemic? - Type - pale, stout, black markings on pronotum, black restricted to puntations on elytra

Pachybrachis precarius Fall - AZ, TX - Type - pale, marked pronotum, lightly marked elytra

Selected References

Balsbaugh, E. 1973. Geographical variation in Pachybrachis othonus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with descriptions of a new subspecies. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 66(2): 252-261.

Balsbaugh Jr., E.U. and K.L. Hays. 1972. The leaf beetles of Alabama (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 441: 1-223. (Full PDF)

Balsbaugh Jr, E.U. and W.L. Tucker. 1976. Geographical variation in Pachybrachis nigricornis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 30(2): 117–131. (JSTOR)

Barney, R.J. 2016. Definition and revision of the othonus species-group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 70(3): 569-605. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J. 2017a. Definition and revision of the luridus species-group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 71(1): 1-45. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J. 2017b. Definition and revision of the spumarius species-group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 71(3): 449-460. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J. 2018a. Definition and revision of the atomarius species-group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), including descriptions of nine new species. The Coleopterists Bulletin 72(1): 9-74. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J. 2018b. Definition and revision of the pectoralis species-group of eastern North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 72(3): 471-499. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J. 2019. Key to all sixty-four species of Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae) in the eastern USA. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 73(1): 85-96. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J., L. LeSage, and K. Savard. 2013. Pachybrachis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) of eastern Canada. ZooKeys 332: 95–175. (Full Text)

Barney, R.J., and S.L. Hall. 2011. New host plant records for selected Cryptocephaline leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Kentucky. The Coleopterists Bulletin 65(1): 15-19. (BioOne)

Barney, R.J., S.M. Clark, E.G. Riley. 2011. Annotated list of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Kentucky: subfamily Cryptocephalinae. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 72(1): 3-23. (BioOne)

Bowditch, F.C. 1909. Notes on Pachybrachys and descriptions of new species. Canadian Entomologist 41: 237-244, 285-292, 312-324. (Full Text)

Clark, S.M., D.G. LeDoux, T.N. Seeno, E.G. Riley, A.J. Gilbert and J.M. Sullivan. 2004. Host plants of leaf beetle species occurring in the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae, Chrysomelidae exclusive of Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 2. 476 pp.

Fall, H.C. 1915. A revision of the North American species of Pachybrachys. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 41: 291–486 (Full Text)

LeConte, J.L. 1880. Short studies of North American Coleoptera. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 8: 163–218

Quinn, M.A. 2000. Abundance and distribution of potential arthropod prey species in a typical Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat. Unpublished Thesis. Texas A&M University, College Station. ix + 182 pp. (Full Text)

Riley, E.G. and R.J. Barney. 2015. Definition and revision of the viduatus species-group of North American Pachybrachis Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 69(1): 25–59. (BioOne)

Riley, E.G., S.M. Clark, R.W. Flowers, and A.J. Gilbert. 2002. Family 124. Chrysomelidae Latreille 1802, Pp. 617-691 In: R.H. Arnett, Jr. et al., (editors) American Beetles vol. 2, Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. xiv + 861 pp. (Limited Preview)

Riley, E.G., S.M. Clark, and T.N. Seeno. 2003. Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society, Special Publication no. 1. 290 pp.