# Oulema melanopus

The Oulema melanopus, also known as the cereal leaf beetle, is a small insect that loves to munch on grass and cereal plants. They have shiny green bodies and are often found in fields and gardens.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Cereal Leaf Beetle

![Oulema melanopus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oulema_melanopus01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Attribution · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oulema_melanopus01.jpg)

## Appearance

The Oulema melanopus is a slender beetle with glossy metallic blue-green wing covers. Its pronotum and legs are a striking reddish-orange, contrasting sharply with its dark head and antennae.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Adult beetles can play dead, dropping off plants to fool predators!
- The larvae cover themselves in a gooey black substance that looks gross!
- Their eggs are often laid in neat rows, like tiny yellow pearls!
- They were accidentally brought to North America from Europe in the 1960s!

## Special abilities

- **Poop Power Shield:** Oulema melanopus larvae can create a 'fecal shield' because of sticky excrement that helps them deter predators like ladybugs.
- **Leaf Chomper Jaws:** Oulema melanopus has strong chewing mouthparts that help them munch through tough plant leaves and stems with ease.
- **Shiny Leaf Disguise:** Oulema melanopus has a shiny blue-green exoskeleton that helps them blend in with the leaves of their host plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 3.5-5 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-200 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

They munch on leaves of cereals and grasses, making them pesky plant eaters.

- **Age differences:** Larvae feed within the upper leaf surface, while adults chew long strips along the surface.
- **Primary Foods:** Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Wild Grasses
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Seven-spotted Ladybug (*Coccinella septempunctata*) — Larvae and eggs are a tasty meal for ladybugs.
- **Parasitizes:** Cereal Leaf Beetle Parasitoid Wasp (*Tetrastichus julis*) — This tiny wasp lays its eggs inside the beetle larvae.
- **Eats:** Common Wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) — A favored food, causing significant crop damage.
- **Eats:** Cultivated Oat (*Avena sativa*) — Both larvae and adults feed on oat leaves.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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 look at insects from a distance and not touch them, as they can be delicate.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Oulema melanopus?

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.

### How big is Oulema melanopus?

3.5-5 mm

### How long does Oulema melanopus live?

30-200 days

### What does Oulema melanopus eat?

They munch on leaves of cereals and grasses, making them pesky plant eaters.

### Where is Oulema melanopus usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Oulema melanopus hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Oulema melanopus have?

6

## 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: [Oulema melanopus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oulema-melanopus)