Chrysolina oricalcia (Müller, O.F., 1776)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Chrysolina > Chrysolina oricalcia

Images

Chrysolina oricalcia
Source:
Roger Key

Description

Size: 6.5-9.1mm
Basic colour: Dark blue, sometimes dark violet, very dark green, deep bronze or black with a bronze reflection.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Chrysolina haemoptera

Biology

Status: Widespread but Scarce (Notable B) and may be declining in some parts of England.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Apiaceae such as cow parsley
Overwintering: Unknown location, but adults do overwinter.
Food: Adults feed on leaves and possibly pollen; larvae feed on leaves at night and in the evening.
Other notes: Similar to C. haemoptera. Pronotum trapezoidal with longitudinal furrows towards the sides. Elytral striae formed of sparse punctures.

Articles

Ramsay, A.J. (2000). Chrysolina oricalcia (Müller, O.F., 1776) (Chrysomelidae) new to West Lothian. The Coleopterist 9(1): 45.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)