Blepharida
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| Blepharida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adult Blepharida rhois, or Sumac Flea Beetle | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Subfamily: | Galerucinae |
| Tribe: | Alticini |
| Genus: | Blepharida Chevrolat, 1836 |
| Species | |
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See text | |
Blepharida is a genus of leaf beetles of the subfamily Galerucinae.[1] They have co-evolved with plants in the genus Bursera, which they feed on. The plants have developed a sticky, poisonous resin that sprays out when the leaves are bitten into, and the beetles have evolved to cut through the veins of the leaves to disable this mechanism first.[2] There are currently 73 known species in Blepharida, which are found in the Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical and southern Palearctic realms.[3]