Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Altica
- Altica longicollis
Description
Size: 2.8-4.2mm
Basic colour: Metallic green or blue
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
A. ericeti is a continental European species not found in the UK, and British specimens may be more accurately considered as A. longicollis (e.g. Denton 2009). A. ericeti is used in Duff's 2008 checklist (Duff 2008) but updated to A. longicollis in the 2012 edition (Duff 2012). The junior synonym A. britteni may also be found in use e.g. in Kevan (1962) which keys out British species using features of the dissected-out genitalia.
- Denton, J. (2009). Beetles of Surrey: First checklist update. The Coleopterist 18(1): 55-58.
- Duff, A.G. (ed.) (2008). Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles: 2008 edition. A.G.Duff, Wells.
- Duff, A.G. (ed.) (2012). Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles (2nd edition). Pemberley, Iver.
- Kevan, D.K. (1962). The British species of the genus Haltica Geoffroy (Col., Chrysomelidae). Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 98: 189-196.
Biology
Status: Scarce (Notable B) though widespread
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Usually heathers and heaths
Overwintering: Adults overwinter though location unknown.
Food: Shoots, stems and leaves of host plant.