Longitarsus quadriguttatus (Pontoppidan, 1763)

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Longitarsus
  • Longitarsus quadriguttatus

Description

Size: 2.5-3mm
Basic colour: Black
Pattern colour: Yellow, orange or red
Number of spots: 4 (front and rear of each elytron). In var. binotatus the spots are indistinct; in var. immaculatus, the spots are absent.
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: Brown, hind femora black.

Western Palaearctic

Biology

Status: Very local, SE England only (old record from Belfast); Scarce (Notable A)
Habitat: Heathland, calcareous grassland, parkland, roadside verges, disturbed ground, sandy arable fields.
Host plant: Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and possibly viper's-bugloss (Echium vulgare).
Overwintering: As larvae
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map