Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Psylliodes
- Psylliodes sophiae
Images
Source: Roger Key
Description
Size: 2.8-3.7mm
Basic colour: Elytra dark metallic blue
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Usually reddish, sometimes very dark brown.
Leg colour: Largely dark/blackish
Confusion species: Psylliodes chrysocephala
Basic colour: Elytra dark metallic blue
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Usually reddish, sometimes very dark brown.
Leg colour: Largely dark/blackish
Confusion species: Psylliodes chrysocephala
Palaearctic, but only confirmed from Britain, Germany, Dagestan and Turkey as many specimens are misidentified P. chrysocephala. Therefore take care to compare these species.
Biology
Status: Very local, a few sites in East Anglia only. Rare (RDB3)
RDB Category: Rare (RDB3)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Flixweed, Descurainia sophia, though woad (Isatis tinctoria) should also be checked as this is a host in continental Europe.
Overwintering: Unknown.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae are miners in pithy stems.
RDB Category: Rare (RDB3)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Flixweed, Descurainia sophia, though woad (Isatis tinctoria) should also be checked as this is a host in continental Europe.
Overwintering: Unknown.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae are miners in pithy stems.