Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Epitrix
- Epitrix atropae
Common name
Belladonna Flea Beetle
Images
Source: Roger Key
Description
Size: 1.5-2.1mm
Basic colour: Dark brown to black
Pattern colour: Elytra with yellow-orange spots at the apex and usually the shoulders
Number of spots: See pattern colour (2 or 4)
Pronotoum: As basic colour, shiny
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Dark brown to black
Pattern colour: Elytra with yellow-orange spots at the apex and usually the shoulders
Number of spots: See pattern colour (2 or 4)
Pronotoum: As basic colour, shiny
Leg colour: As basic colour
Palaearctic.
Biology
Status: Scarce (Notable B), scattered in southern and eastern England.
Habitat: Various (historically on commercial deadly nightshade crops)
Host plant: Various Solanaceae, especially Deadly Nightshade Atropa belladonna
Overwintering: As adults in grassy borders of ditches and hedgerows.
Food: Adults on leaves (sometimes skeletonising them), larvae on roots.
Habitat: Various (historically on commercial deadly nightshade crops)
Host plant: Various Solanaceae, especially Deadly Nightshade Atropa belladonna
Overwintering: As adults in grassy borders of ditches and hedgerows.
Food: Adults on leaves (sometimes skeletonising them), larvae on roots.