Chrysomela tremula Fabricius, 1787
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Chrysomela > Chrysomela tremula
Description
Size: 7.5-10.0mm
Basic colour: Metallic blue or greenish with red/red-brown elytra
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Metallic blue or greenish
Leg colour: Metallic blue or greenish
Confusion species: Chrysomela populi
Basic colour: Metallic blue or greenish with red/red-brown elytra
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Metallic blue or greenish
Leg colour: Metallic blue or greenish
Confusion species: Chrysomela populi
Once widely scattered across southern and eastern England, and possibly south Wales - now possibly extinct...
Biology
Status: Endangered (RDB1), possibly extinct.
Habitat: Broad-leaved woodland and commons.
Host plant: Aspen and poplar saplings, also willows.
Overwintering: Adults overwinter from late September to April; occasionally active between these dates.
Food: Leaves of host plants.
Other notes: The last confirmed record was in Warwickshire in 1958, the decline is thought to be due to the decline in coppicing. Similar to the widespread C. populi but without the dark apical spot on the elytra. Previous surveys have failed to locate it, so finding this species would be a great re-discovery!
Habitat: Broad-leaved woodland and commons.
Host plant: Aspen and poplar saplings, also willows.
Overwintering: Adults overwinter from late September to April; occasionally active between these dates.
Food: Leaves of host plants.
Other notes: The last confirmed record was in Warwickshire in 1958, the decline is thought to be due to the decline in coppicing. Similar to the widespread C. populi but without the dark apical spot on the elytra. Previous surveys have failed to locate it, so finding this species would be a great re-discovery!
Articles
Mendel, H. & Hatton, J. (2012). Chrysomela tremula Fabricius (Chrysomelidae) rediscovered in Britain. The Coleopterist 21(3): 132.