Adults of Chrysomelinae are beetles with the following features:
antennae inserted on or adjacent to anterior edge of head; inner face of each
mandible with large membranous prostheca; each wing with only one anal cell (sometimes the wings are reduced or absent); metendosternite lateral arms without lobes; femora without internal spring sclerite; tibial spurs absent; tarsi without bifid
setae;
stridulatory mechanism absent; male aedeagus without tegminal ring and the testes not fused within a common membrane; female kotpresse absent. In terms of general appearance, the body is convex, round or oval, and often brightly coloured. Flightless species (at least in the
Australian chrysomeline fauna) tend to be small and dark, and also nocturnal. Larvae can be recognised by: 6 pairs of
stemmata on the head; labial palpi 2-segmented; mandibles palmate;
labrum freely articulated; annular
spiracles; legs present, with paronychial appendix and pretarsus; not in a transportable case. Both adults and larvae have
glands that secrete chemicals to
defend against predators. == Diet ==