Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Donacia
- Donacia semicuprea
Images
Source: Malcolm Greenwood
Source: Lech Borowiec
Description
Size: 5.8-7.8mm
Basic colour: Shiny copper, often with greenish reflection on the sides of the elytra.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour, with a deep midline pit ('sulcus') distinguishing it from other British Donaciinae.
Leg colour: As basic colour but appears pale grey due to dense pubescence.
Basic colour: Shiny copper, often with greenish reflection on the sides of the elytra.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour, with a deep midline pit ('sulcus') distinguishing it from other British Donaciinae.
Leg colour: As basic colour but appears pale grey due to dense pubescence.
Western Palaearctic.
Biology
Status: Locally common in England, scattered in Wales and Ireland, not recorded from Scotland.
Habitat: Various habitats where the host plant is present.
Host plant: Sweet-grasses Glyceria spp, mainly reed sweet-grass G. maxima, sometimes plicate sweet-grass G. notata.
Overwintering: Three-year life cycle, adults overwinter in cocoons.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots (also of branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum).
Habitat: Various habitats where the host plant is present.
Host plant: Sweet-grasses Glyceria spp, mainly reed sweet-grass G. maxima, sometimes plicate sweet-grass G. notata.
Overwintering: Three-year life cycle, adults overwinter in cocoons.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots (also of branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum).