Aphthona pallida

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Aphthona > Aphthona pallida

Images

Aphthona pallida
Source:
Dave Hubble
Aphthona pallida
Source:
Lech Borowiec

Description

Size: 1.5-1.8mm
Basic colour: Yellowish with head black; suture may be darkened. Darker brown forms may exist but this is uncertain.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour with hind femora red-brown and tarsi may be darkened apically.
Confusion species: Aphthona nigriceps

New in 2012 UK checklist.

Some records of A. nigripes are attributable to A. pallida, so true distribution unknown; may be more widespread/common that current records suggest.

 

Biology

Status: Recorded from Scotland and Yorkshire since 2009, but possibly more widespread - see below.
Habitat: Grassland
Host plant: Meadow crane's-bill Geranium pratense
Overwintering: Unknown
Food: Assumed to be leaves of host plant
Other notes: Dissection may be required in order to view the aedeagus and separate from A. nigripes.

Articles

Read, R.W.J. (2015). Aphthona pallida (Bach) (Chrysomelidae) discovered in Cumbria. The Coleopterist 24(1): 34.
Jobe, J.B. & Marsh, R.J. (2012). The status of Aphthona pallida (Bach) (Chrysomelidae) in Yorkshire. The Coleopterist 21(1): 19.
Sinclair, M. & Hutchins, D. (2009). Aphthona pallida (Bach, 1856) (Chrysomelidae) is a British species. The Coleopterist 18(3): 155.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)