Diabrotica
genus of leaf beetles
Diabrotica is a large, widespread genus of beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. Members of this genus include several destructive agricultural pest species, sometimes referred to as corn rootworms.
There are an estimated 400 species grouped into the genus Diabrotica. Within Diabrotica there are 3 series: fucata, virgifera, and signifera groups. The fucata series contains the majority of Diabrotica diversity with 354 species. Fucata are characterized as multivoltine, producing two broods of offspring per year. The virgifera series comprises 24 species, and the signifera series contains 11. Additionally, virgifera and signifera are characterized as univoltine, and will only brood one set of offspring annually.
There is very limited information on most species of Diabrotica. Majority of the research conducted on the Diabrotica genus focuses on investigating species of consequential economic importance, such as D. balteata, D. barberi, D. undecimpunctata howardi, D. virgifera, D. speciosa.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Diabrotica” is genus of leaf beetles. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Diabrotica, genus and leaf, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of leaf beetles” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 7, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1937630. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Diabrotica”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Diabrotica primary sources, Diabrotica archive and Diabrotica research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Diabrotica”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Diabrotica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.