# Grape Colaspis (*colaspis brunnea*)

The Grape Colaspis is a tiny beetle that can be found munching on grape leaves. With its shiny green body, it sparkles in the sunlight, making it a delightful sight for little explorers.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Gardens, vineyards, and areas with grapevines.
- **Also known as:** Brown Colaspis, Colaspis Beetle, Grape Beetle

![Grape Colaspis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Colaspis_brunnea_402795114.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Matthew Lindsey, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colaspis_brunnea_402795114.jpg)

## Appearance

The Grape Colaspis is a small, oval beetle, typically brownish-yellow to reddish-brown in color. Its wing covers (elytra) are marked with distinct rows of tiny punctures, and its head often appears darker. This gives it a slightly textured, metallic look.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Chrysomelidae
- **Genus:** Colaspis

## Interesting facts

- Adult Grape Colaspis beetles only live for about 4 to 6 weeks, busy eating and laying eggs!
- Baby Grape Colaspis beetles (larvae) spend the entire winter safe and warm underground!
- This beetle can fly to find new plants, but they prefer walking or crawling between leaves!
- When they eat, these beetles make plant leaves look like they've been hit with buckshot!

## Special abilities

- **Root Muncher:** Grape Colaspis larvae can eat plant roots underground that helps them hide from predators.
- **Leaf Chewers:** Adults have strong mandibles to munch on tough plant leaves, creating distinctive holes.
- **Rapid Egg Layer:** A female Grape Colaspis can lay over 100 eggs in the soil that helps ensure many survive.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 6-10 mm
- **Size:** 3-5 mm
- **Lifespan:** 28-42 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

These beetles are plant-eaters, munching on leaves and roots of many crops and wild plants.

- **Age differences:** Larvae feed on roots underground, while adults prefer plant leaves.
- **Primary Foods:** grape leaves, soybean leaves, strawberry leaves, clover, grass roots
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** common grape (*Vitis vinifera*) — Adults eat leaves, larvae damage roots.
- **Eaten by:** [soybean](https://www.snappit.app/explore/soybean) (*Glycine max*) — Adults chew holes in soybean leaves.
- **Parasitizes:** parasitic wasp (*Trichogramma pretiosum*) — Tiny wasps lay eggs inside Grape Colaspis eggs.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Grape Colaspis?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Grape Colaspis's wingspan?

6-10 mm

### How big is Grape Colaspis?

3-5 mm

### How long does Grape Colaspis live?

28-42 days

### What does Grape Colaspis eat?

These beetles are plant-eaters, munching on leaves and roots of many crops and wild plants.

### Where is Grape Colaspis usually found?

Gardens, vineyards, and areas with grapevines.

### How does Grape Colaspis hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Grape Colaspis have?

6

## Where to spot

- [W.J. Freeman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/w-j-freeman-park) — Tennessee, US · Park

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Grape Colaspis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grape-colaspis)