# Listrus Listrus is a special kind of insect that loves to hop around in the grass. It has a unique shape and can be found in many places, making it a fun little friend to discover in nature! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Listrus](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/338221/medium.jpg) Photo: Don Loarie, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/338221) ## Appearance The Listrus is a slender insect, typically emerald green with shimmering, segmented armor. It has two large, reflective compound eyes and long, delicate antennae that often curl at the tips. Its wings are translucent with fine, silver veins, making it visually distinct from common leaf beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Melyridae - **Genus:** Listrus ## Interesting facts - Listrus antennae can 'smell' predators from far away! - Some Listrus can glow in the dark like tiny living jewels! - They lay eggs disguised as tiny plant seeds! - Wow! Their tiny brains can remember complex flight paths! ## Special abilities - **Chameleon Cloak:** Listrus can change its body color rapidly because of specialized cells, helping them disappear against leaves and bark. - **Whisper Wind:** Listrus has unique membranes that produce ultrasonic chirps, helping them communicate with others over long distances. - **Spring Loaded Legs:** Listrus possesses powerful hind legs with elastic proteins, allowing them to leap many times their body length to escape danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-20 mm - **Size:** 5-10 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Listrus munch on tiny plants and sometimes smaller insects, helping keep the garden healthy! - **Primary Foods:** leaf tissue, aphids, pollen, nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common food source for many bird species. - **Eats:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Helps control populations of tiny garden pests. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Feeds on nectar and aids in plant reproduction. ## 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch Listrus from a distance and not touch them, as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Listrus? 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 Listrus's wingspan? 10-20 mm ### How big is Listrus? 5-10 mm ### How long does Listrus live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Listrus fly? 5 km/h ### What does Listrus eat? Listrus munch on tiny plants and sometimes smaller insects, helping keep the garden healthy! ### Where is Listrus usually found? Grasslands ### How does Listrus hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Anarchist Protected Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anarchist-protected-area) — British Columbia, CA · Nature Reserve ## 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*) --- Source: [Listrus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/listrus)