A small orsodacnid leaf beetle (Latreille, 1802)[]
Arthropods (Arthropoda)----Insects (Insecta)----Beetles (Coleoptera)-----Polyphaga----Chrysomeloidea----Orsodacnid beetles (Orsodacnidae)------Orsodacne----O. atra
20th May, 2008.
Orsodacnidae is generally considered a subfamily of Chrysomelidae, but it can change every now and then, I will try to find the most often used definition, at the moment it will stay its own family.
In Edmonton, most often near the River valley (particulary the Riverdale area) these can be found on low branches of trees. They are very annoying to photograph since they are A. very fast moving, B. go under leaves alot and C. drop off and fly (much like ladybirds) with the slightest movement near them. This is another very variable speces and the elytra is coloured with pale yellows and blacks, sometimes being all black or all yellow; however, the pronotum is always orange.