Chrysolina graminis

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Chrysolina
  • Chrysolina graminis
Common name
Tansy Leaf Beetle

Description

Size: 7.7-10.5mm
Basic colour: Metallic bright green
Pattern colour: Suture metallic blue or blue-green and darker than the elytra.
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Chrysolina herbacea

Biology

Status: Scarce (Notable A), though could more accurately be considered RDB2 (Vulnerable). Also a UKBAP species.
Habitat: Fens, banks of rivers with wide floodplains
Host plant: Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and Water Mint (Mentha aquatica)
Overwintering: Unknown, although some individuals undergo an extended diapause of more than a year.
Food: Leaves of host plants.
Other notes: Very similar to C. herbacea, but suture metallic blue or blue-green and darker than the elytra.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map

Chrysolina fastuosa

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Chrysolina
  • Chrysolina fastuosa

Description

Size: 4.8-7.0mm
Basic colour: Elytra metallic green (sometimes metallic bronze) with blue suture and usuallu with a reddish or golden longitudinal stripe.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour

Biology

Status: Widely distributed.
Habitat: Various, especially where damp; also woodland rides.
Host plant: Various Lamiaceae; also on nettles
Overwintering: Usually as a prepupa, although adults and larvae may also be able to overwinter.
Food: Adults and larvae feed on leaves of host plants.
Other notes: Larvae feed at night and hide in seed capsules during the day.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map

Chrysolina hyperici

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Chrysolina
  • Chrysolina hyperici

Description

Size: 5.0-7.3mm
Basic colour: Dark metallic green or bronze, sometimes reddish, blue-black or almost black.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Chrysolina brunsvicensis

Biology

Status: Widespread, especially in England and Wales
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Usually St.John's-worts (Hypericum)
Overwintering: Adults do overwinter, although most die by February.
Food: Adults feed on Hypericum leaves & flowers; larvae feed on leaves and stems.
Other notes: Pronotum and elytral interstices dull and very finely punctured. Elytral striae formed of sparse punctures.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map

Chrysolina brunsvicensis

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Chrysolina
  • Chrysolina brunsvicensis

Description

Size: 5.3-6.3mm
Basic colour: Coppery-red with a brassy reflection.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: Metallic green
Confusion species: Chrysolina hyperici

Biology

Status: Widespread in England and Wales.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Usually St.John's-worts (Hypericum); occasionally others such as ragworts, though probably accidentally.
Overwintering: Unknown location, but adults do overwinter.
Food: Leaves of St.John's-worts (Hypericum)
Other notes: Head metallic green. An alternative colour form is entirely golden-green and may appear quite dark. Pronotum and elytral interstices coarsely punctured and shiny. Elytral punctures form fairly faint, sometimes partly irregular, striae among the smaller interstitial punctures.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map

Chrysolina staphylaea

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Chrysolina
  • Chrysolina staphylaea

Description

Size: 5.2-8.7mm
Basic colour: Red-brown, usually (but not always) with a weak metallic reflection.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour (may appear a little darker than elytra)
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Chrysolina banksi

Biology

Status: Common and widespread.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various, but especially noted on creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
Overwintering: Adults hibernate from autumn to April in a variety of locations.
Food: Various, but especially noted on leaves of creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
Other notes: Similar to C. banksi, but usually smaller. Elytral punctures dense and random, sometimes forming a partial row along the suture, especially in the rear half.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map