Cryptocephalus exiguus Schneider, 1792
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Cryptocephalus > Cryptocephalus exiguus
Common name:
Pashford Pot Beetle
Description
Size: 2.0-3.2mm
Basic colour: Black
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Black
Leg colour: Orange-yellow
Confusion species: Cryptocephalus labiatus
, Confusion species: Cryptocephalus querceti
Basic colour: Black
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Black
Leg colour: Orange-yellow
Confusion species: Cryptocephalus labiatus
, Confusion species: Cryptocephalus querceti
Known only from a few sites in eastern England, with recent records (to 2000) only from Pashford Poors Fen, Suffolk - however drainage of surrounding agricultural fields which had led to drying of the site means that it is feared that this species may be extinct. It has a UK BAP page here.
Biology
Status: Endangered (RDB1), possibly extinct. A UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) species.
Habitat: Wetlands, especially mixed fen or fen meadow.
Host plant: Various, especially sorrels
Overwintering: Unknown, although larval diapause may occur.
Food: Possibly leaves and fruit e.g. of Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).
Other notes: Similar to C. querceti and the much commoner C. labiatus but the pronotum is finely longitudinally ridged rathar than being smooth (and in C. labiatus especially, very shiny). In males, the front of the head is mostly yellow with a central black stripe, or separate black marks by antennae; in C. querceti and males of C. labiatus, the front of the head is black.
Habitat: Wetlands, especially mixed fen or fen meadow.
Host plant: Various, especially sorrels
Overwintering: Unknown, although larval diapause may occur.
Food: Possibly leaves and fruit e.g. of Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).
Other notes: Similar to C. querceti and the much commoner C. labiatus but the pronotum is finely longitudinally ridged rathar than being smooth (and in C. labiatus especially, very shiny). In males, the front of the head is mostly yellow with a central black stripe, or separate black marks by antennae; in C. querceti and males of C. labiatus, the front of the head is black.
Articles
Mendel, H. (1998). History of Cryptocephalus exiguus Schneider (Chrysomelidae) in Britain. The Coleopterist 7(1): 7.