Chrysolina haemoptera (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Chrysolina > Chrysolina haemoptera

Images

Chrysolina haemoptera
Source:
John Walters

Description

Size: 5-9mm
Basic colour: Dull blue-black, no metallic reflection.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Chrysolina oricalcia

Biology

Status: Scarce (Notable B) and may be declining in some areas, especially away from the coast. Mainly southern England, scattered elsewhere.
Habitat: Usually, but not always, coastal. On sand dunes with herbaceous plants but little grass, undercliffs and chalk downs.
Host plant: Plantains (Plantago), especially Buck's-horn Plantain (P. coronopus)
Overwintering: Adults and larvae overwinter.
Food: Host plants.
Other notes: Similar to C. oricalcia. Pronotum without lateral longitudinal furrows; the sides are straight (looking from above) and it narrows cone-like towards the front. Elytral punctures largely confused, partly forming irregular double rows. May be found on and under the host plant.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)