Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Lochmaea
- Lochmaea caprea
Common name
Willow Leaf Beetle
Images
Source: Roger Key
Description
Size: 4-6mm
Basic colour: Brownish, ochre-coloured. Head black.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Lochmaea suturalis
Basic colour: Brownish, ochre-coloured. Head black.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Lochmaea suturalis
Palaearctic
Biology
Status: Widespread and common
Habitat: Various, mainly wetlands
Host plant: Various trees, usually willows and birches
Overwintering: As adults
Food: Adults on host leaves; larvae on willow leaves, although they have also been found feeding on growing tips of crowberry Empetrum nigrum (causing die-back)
Other notes: Adults parasitised by Medina collaris (Diptera: Tachinidae). Adults and larvae predated by pentatomid bugs and aphid-feeding ladybirds. Adults may be consumed by fish such as perch.
Habitat: Various, mainly wetlands
Host plant: Various trees, usually willows and birches
Overwintering: As adults
Food: Adults on host leaves; larvae on willow leaves, although they have also been found feeding on growing tips of crowberry Empetrum nigrum (causing die-back)
Other notes: Adults parasitised by Medina collaris (Diptera: Tachinidae). Adults and larvae predated by pentatomid bugs and aphid-feeding ladybirds. Adults may be consumed by fish such as perch.