Clytra quadripunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Clytra > Clytra quadripunctata
Images
Source:
Roger Key
Description
Size: 7.4-9.5mm
Basic colour: Black and yellowish-red
Pattern colour: 2 black spots on each yellowish-red elytron; the rear spot larger and may appear to be formed of two fused spots.
Number of spots: 2 on each elytron
Other colour forms: Rare
Pronotoum: Black
Leg colour: Black
Confusion species: Clytra laeviuscula
Basic colour: Black and yellowish-red
Pattern colour: 2 black spots on each yellowish-red elytron; the rear spot larger and may appear to be formed of two fused spots.
Number of spots: 2 on each elytron
Other colour forms: Rare
Pronotoum: Black
Leg colour: Black
Confusion species: Clytra laeviuscula
Biology
Status: May have declined, but no current designation as Rare or Scarce.
Habitat: Associated with various ant species; in woodlands, hedges, sometimes on commons.
Host plant: Various trees and shrubs, cock's-foot and bracken.
Overwintering: Adults collected April to December. Larvae pupate attached to plant debris in ant nests.
Food: Adults feed on new shoots and leaves of trees and shrubs; larvae feed on plant debris within ant nests.
Other notes: Pronotum, body and legs all black. Head black with red spots behind the eyes. A minor colour variant has more a yellowish background colour to the elytra. Separated from C. laeviuscula (considered extinct in Britain) by having pronotal side margins flattened/broad and clearly punctured (not smooth and narrow as in C. laeviuscula).
Habitat: Associated with various ant species; in woodlands, hedges, sometimes on commons.
Host plant: Various trees and shrubs, cock's-foot and bracken.
Overwintering: Adults collected April to December. Larvae pupate attached to plant debris in ant nests.
Food: Adults feed on new shoots and leaves of trees and shrubs; larvae feed on plant debris within ant nests.
Other notes: Pronotum, body and legs all black. Head black with red spots behind the eyes. A minor colour variant has more a yellowish background colour to the elytra. Separated from C. laeviuscula (considered extinct in Britain) by having pronotal side margins flattened/broad and clearly punctured (not smooth and narrow as in C. laeviuscula).