Donacia sparganii Ahrens, 1810
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Donacia > Donacia sparganii
Images
Source:
Roger Key
Source:
Malcolm Greenwood
Description
Size: 6-8.5mm
Basic colour: Metallic copper; elytra with an oily-looking sheen and a pinkish or greenish reflection in sunlight; sometimes overall darker or more clearly green.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Metallic copper; elytra with an oily-looking sheen and a pinkish or greenish reflection in sunlight; sometimes overall darker or more clearly green.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Western Palaearctic.
Biology
Status: Scattered in England, Wales and SW Scotland, not recorded from Ireland. Scarce (Notable A).
Habitat: River-bank vegetation, usually on floating leaves of bur-reeds (Sparganium spp.) trailing in the water. Therefore often out of reach and binoculars (or a boat) can be useful.
Host plant: Bur-reeds (Sparganium spp.), also found on other plants.
Overwintering: Unclear, though there is a two-year life cycle.
Food: Adults possibly on pollen, larvae at roots.
Habitat: River-bank vegetation, usually on floating leaves of bur-reeds (Sparganium spp.) trailing in the water. Therefore often out of reach and binoculars (or a boat) can be useful.
Host plant: Bur-reeds (Sparganium spp.), also found on other plants.
Overwintering: Unclear, though there is a two-year life cycle.
Food: Adults possibly on pollen, larvae at roots.