Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Donacia
- Donacia simplex
Images
Source: Roger Key
Source: Malcolm Greenwood
Description
Size: 5.4-9.4mm
Basic colour: Metallic copper, usually 'frosted', sometimes with a red, green or grey tinge.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Donacia impressa, Donacia thalassina
Palaearctic, including North Africa. Records from Japan may be incorrect.
Biology
Status: Widespread and common.
Habitat: Various waterside/wetland locations where the host plant grows.
Host plant: Various bur-reeds Sparganium spp; also found on other waterside/wetland plants.
Overwintering: Probably as new generation adults in mud or submerged reed stems.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.