Mniophila muscorum (Koch, J.D.W., 1803)

Taxonomy

  • Polyphaga
  • Chrysomeloidea
  • Chrysomelidae
  • Mniophila
  • Mniophila muscorum
Common name
Moss Flea Beetle

Description

Size: 1-1.5mm
Basic colour: Black, faintly metallic
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour

Western Palaearctic, including Caucasus, Georgia and Turkey.

Biology

Status: Widely scattered but Scarce (Notable B); probably under-recorded.
Habitat: Mosses in various habitats/situations.
Host plant: Mosses
Overwintering: Unknown
Food: Uncertain but it is likely that larvae and adults feed on mosses.
Other notes: Adults flightless/wingless. Adults parasitised by a wasp (probably a braconid); larvae parasitised by a fungus Muiaria sp.

Articles

  • (2013), Mniophila muscorum (Koch) (Chrysomelidae) in Norfolk - new to East Anglia The Coleopterist 22(2):64

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)

Distribution Map