Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Donacia
- Donacia marginata
Images
Source: Lee Manning
Source: Roger Key
Source: Malcolm Greenwood
Description
Size: 8-10mm
Basic colour: Golden-bronze
Pattern colour: Elytra usually with variable reddish-purple patches and sides.
Number of spots: See pattern
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Donacia bicolora
, Confusion species: Donacia obscura
Basic colour: Golden-bronze
Pattern colour: Elytra usually with variable reddish-purple patches and sides.
Number of spots: See pattern
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Donacia bicolora
, Confusion species: Donacia obscura
Palaearctic, including Morocco.
Biology
Status: Widespread and locally common, especially in the south. As far north as SW Scotland.
Habitat: On emergent vegetation, including reedbeds at the edges of various water-bodies and wetland/damp habitats.
Host plant: Branched bur-reed, Sparganium erectum. Possibly also other wetland/emergent plants.
Overwintering: Unknown.
Food: Adults on upper epidermis and pulp of leaves, and possibly also pollen; larvae uncertain but may be found between leaves, eggs being laid between submerged parts.
Habitat: On emergent vegetation, including reedbeds at the edges of various water-bodies and wetland/damp habitats.
Host plant: Branched bur-reed, Sparganium erectum. Possibly also other wetland/emergent plants.
Overwintering: Unknown.
Food: Adults on upper epidermis and pulp of leaves, and possibly also pollen; larvae uncertain but may be found between leaves, eggs being laid between submerged parts.