The occurrence of Sceloenopla bidens (F., 1792) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Hispinae) on Philodendron spp. has been observed in Campinas and other cities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The adults stay in the lower surface of the leaves, where they feed, causing typical leaf injury. The larvae are leaf miners and, therefore, impair the ornamental effect of the plant. Under laboratory conditions, the insect development from egg to adult emergence lasted 48 days. In the philodendron germplasm of the Instituto Agronômico, a variation of performance among the species in relation to injury caused by this insect was verified. Two species showed leaves without damage, adults or larvae while others, as P. renauxii, exhibited highly damaged leaves and many adults. The presence or feeding of S. bidens in other epiphytes of the Araceae family, which were near the infested philodendrons, was not observed. This fact suggests that this species may be specific to the Philodendron genus.
Inseria; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae; Hispinae; Sceloenopla bidens (F., 1792); Philodendron spp.