Black Flying Squirrel vs Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle

Aeromys tephromelas compared with Longitarsus succineus

Key Differences

• Black Flying Squirrel is Data Deficient while Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black Flying Squirrel	Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Sciuridae (Squirrels)	Chrysomelidae
Genus	Aeromys	Longitarsus
Species	Aeromys tephromelas	Longitarsus succineus

Evolutionary Relationship

Black Flying Squirrel and Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Black Flying Squirrel

DD — Data Deficient

Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black Flying Squirrel	Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black Flying Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Black Flying Squirrel

The Black Flying Squirrel (Aeromys tephromelas) is a species in the genus Aeromys. Its conservation status is listed as Data Deficient, indicating insufficient data for assessment. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle

The chrysanthemum flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephalus) is a small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and western Asia. Adults are small, shiny, metallic bronze-green to blue-black beetles, and like other flea beetles, they possess enlarged hind femora that enable them to jump powerfully when disturbed, giving the group their common name. Both adults and larvae of this species feed on plants in the family Brassicaceae, particularly oilseed rape (Brassica napus), as well as members of related plant families. The specific association with chrysanthemum suggested by the common name may reflect occasional feeding on ornamental plants or historical misidentification, as the primary pest hosts in agricultural contexts are cruciferous crops. Adult beetles make characteristic small round holes in leaves, and larvae mine the stems of host plants. Psylliodes chrysocephalus is a notable agricultural pest of oilseed rape in parts of Europe, where larval stem mining can reduce crop vigor. Population levels are highest in autumn when adults are actively feeding and laying eggs. Integrated pest management strategies for flea beetle control include crop rotation, seed treatments, and biological controls.