Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Psylliodes
- Psylliodes chrysocephala
Common name
Cabbage-stem flea beetle
Images
Source: Lech Borowiec
Description
Size: 3-4.5mm
Basic colour: Variable; usually metallic blue, var. anglica has elytra yellowish to pale brown; may have elytra metallic blue and pronotum yellowish to reddish.
Pattern colour: See basic colour
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Many and common
Pronotoum: See basic colour
Leg colour: Orange-red, hind femora darkened.
Basic colour: Variable; usually metallic blue, var. anglica has elytra yellowish to pale brown; may have elytra metallic blue and pronotum yellowish to reddish.
Pattern colour: See basic colour
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Many and common
Pronotoum: See basic colour
Leg colour: Orange-red, hind femora darkened.
Western Palaearctic, including Macaronesia, Cape Verde and North Africa; introduced into Canada.
Biology
Status: Common and widespread
Habitat: Various, wherever the host plants grow
Host plant: Various wild and cultivated Brassicaceae
Overwintering: Probably as adults and larvae
Food: Adults on leaves and possibly pollen. Larvae are stem-miners and can also be found in seed pods and leaf stalks (petioles)
Other notes: Larvae parasitised by various Hymenoptera. Adults also affected by fungal pathogens. Larvae parasitised by nematodes. Various other beetles (adults and larvae) predate eggs and larvae of this flea beetle.
Habitat: Various, wherever the host plants grow
Host plant: Various wild and cultivated Brassicaceae
Overwintering: Probably as adults and larvae
Food: Adults on leaves and possibly pollen. Larvae are stem-miners and can also be found in seed pods and leaf stalks (petioles)
Other notes: Larvae parasitised by various Hymenoptera. Adults also affected by fungal pathogens. Larvae parasitised by nematodes. Various other beetles (adults and larvae) predate eggs and larvae of this flea beetle.