Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Donacia
- Donacia cinerea
Images
Source: Malcolm Greenwood
Description
Size: 7.3-10.5mm
Basic colour: Bronze (rarely dark green) but covered in short, pale pubescence making the colour appear shiny silver-grey to pale brownish. This is unique among British Donaciinae
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Bronze (rarely dark green) but covered in short, pale pubescence making the colour appear shiny silver-grey to pale brownish. This is unique among British Donaciinae
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Palaearctic
Biology
Status: Scattered in England and Wales, recorded from Ireland, one old record from Scotland.
Habitat: Emergent vegetation growing in still water.
Host plant: Bulrushes (Typha spp.), sometimes other plants.
Overwintering: Three-year life cycle, overwintering as adults in cocoons.
Food: Adults on leaves (feeding on the upper epidermis and pulp, leaving the thin, membranous lower epidermis intact); larvae on roots.
Habitat: Emergent vegetation growing in still water.
Host plant: Bulrushes (Typha spp.), sometimes other plants.
Overwintering: Three-year life cycle, overwintering as adults in cocoons.
Food: Adults on leaves (feeding on the upper epidermis and pulp, leaving the thin, membranous lower epidermis intact); larvae on roots.