Leaf beetle (leaf insect) - Leaf beetle (English spelling)

Japanese: ハムシ(葉虫) - ハムシ（英語表記）leaf beetle

A general term for insects in the beetle order Chrysomelidae family. They are called leaf beetles because they eat leaves. Approximately 30,000 species have been recorded worldwide, and nearly 600 in Japan, but most are small, with body lengths of 2 to 6 mm. Many species have a beautiful metallic luster, and are sometimes written in kanji as "kinkamushi." In terms of classification, they are closely related to the Cerambycidae and Bruchidae families, and together with these families they belong to the superfamily Chrysomeloidea. The Chrysomelidae family is divided into many subfamilies, and their ecology is also very varied. In addition, there are quite a few well-known pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle (illustration), because they eat leaves.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

甲虫目ハムシ科Chrysomelidaeの昆虫の総称。葉を食べることからハムシと呼ばれる。世界から約3万種，日本からは600種近くが記録されているが，体長2～6mmの小型種が多い。美しい金属光沢をもつ種類が多く〈金花虫〉の漢字をあてることがある。分類上からはカミキリムシ科，マメゾウムシ科に近縁で，それらの科とともにハムシ上科とする。ハムシ科は多くの亜科に分けられ，その生態も変化に富む。また葉を食するためコロラドハムシ（イラスト）など著名な害虫も少なくない。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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