Longitarsus ochroleucus (Marsham, 1802)

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Longitarsus
  • Longitarsus ochroleucus

Description

Size: 2-2.5mm
Basic colour: Pale dusky yellow
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour, hind femora black (at least in apical half)
Confusion species: Longitarsus gracilis

Palaearctic, including North Africa.

Biology

Status: Widely scattered records but has declined, hence recent records only from England and may once have been common in arable fields. Scarce (Notable B)
Habitat: Grassland, commons, woodland, sand & chalk pits, beaches (around high-water mark), and possibly on disturbed ground.
Host plant: Ragworts (Senecio spp.); sometimes other Asteraceae.
Overwintering: As early instar larvae (adults die before winter)
Food: Adults on leaves (possibly also flower buds and/or pollen), larvae on roots.
Other notes: Similar to L. gracilis var. poweri (note colour of hind femora)

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map