Cute shiny flea beetle in the city park of Puyo, Ecuador

A small flea beetle of the genus Asphaera, within the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). These beetles are widely distributed across the Neotropics and are known for their vibrant, glossy coloration, often in striking combinations of red, orange, and black. Like all flea beetles, they are excellent jumpers thanks to their strongly developed hind legs. Adults feed externally on leaves, stems, and petals, leaving behind tiny round holes that resemble buckshot. In contrast, the larvae live in the soil, where they feed on fine root hairs. I encountered this charming little beetle in Puyo, a pleasant small city on the edge of the Amazon rainforest.

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