Cryptocephalus pusillus Fabricius, 1777
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Cryptocephalus > Cryptocephalus pusillus
Images
Source:
Roger Key
Description
Size: 2.2-3.0mm
Basic colour: Yellowish
Pattern colour: See notes below.
Number of spots: See notes below.
Other colour forms: Common
Pronotoum: Yellowish (sometimes partly orange or brownish in dark specimens)
Leg colour: Yellow or orange-yellow
Confusion species: Cryptocephalus fulvus
Basic colour: Yellowish
Pattern colour: See notes below.
Number of spots: See notes below.
Other colour forms: Common
Pronotoum: Yellowish (sometimes partly orange or brownish in dark specimens)
Leg colour: Yellow or orange-yellow
Confusion species: Cryptocephalus fulvus
Biology
Status: Common and widespread, especially in England and Wales.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various, mainly broadleaved trees.
Overwintering: 1st to 4th (final) instar larvae overwinter, possibly in leaf litter.
Food: Leaves of host plants.
Other notes: Very similar to C. fulvus, but antennal segments 4-10 more elongate, final segment longer than 0.2mm and at least as long as the first segment. Punctures of elytral striae become finer towards the rear. Males often with variably darkened elytra - may be largely dark brown or black. Females usually with darkened shoulders, sometimes also with brown spots to the rear of the elytra, sometimes also towards the front. Pronotum may be partly darkened. Femora without the small (and difficult-to-see) apical flange on the front upper edge.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various, mainly broadleaved trees.
Overwintering: 1st to 4th (final) instar larvae overwinter, possibly in leaf litter.
Food: Leaves of host plants.
Other notes: Very similar to C. fulvus, but antennal segments 4-10 more elongate, final segment longer than 0.2mm and at least as long as the first segment. Punctures of elytral striae become finer towards the rear. Males often with variably darkened elytra - may be largely dark brown or black. Females usually with darkened shoulders, sometimes also with brown spots to the rear of the elytra, sometimes also towards the front. Pronotum may be partly darkened. Femora without the small (and difficult-to-see) apical flange on the front upper edge.
Articles
Anderson, R. (2006). New sites for Cryptocephalus pusillus Fabricius (Chrysomelidae) in Ireland. The Coleopterist 15(1): 19.