Donacia simplex Fabricius, 1775

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Donacia > Donacia simplex

Images

Donacia simplex
Source:
Roger Key
Donacia simplex
Source:
Malcolm Greenwood

Description

Size: 5.4-9.4mm
Basic colour: Metallic copper, usually 'frosted', sometimes with a red, green or grey tinge.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Donacia impressa, Donacia thalassina

Palaearctic, including North Africa. Records from Japan may be incorrect.

Biology

Status: Widespread and common.
Habitat: Various waterside/wetland locations where the host plant grows.
Host plant: Various bur-reeds Sparganium spp; also found on other waterside/wetland plants.
Overwintering: Probably as new generation adults in mud or submerged reed stems.
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)