Galerucella calmariensis (Linnaeus, 1767)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Galerucella > Galerucella calmariensis
Description
Size: 3.6-5.6mm
Basic colour: Dusky yellow to pale brown
Pattern colour: Elytra usually with a dark shoulder spot extending into a longitudinal band along the side, though it may be somewhat diffuse.
Number of spots: See pattern colour
Pronotoum: As basic colour with a dark spot
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Dusky yellow to pale brown
Pattern colour: Elytra usually with a dark shoulder spot extending into a longitudinal band along the side, though it may be somewhat diffuse.
Number of spots: See pattern colour
Pronotoum: As basic colour with a dark spot
Leg colour: As basic colour
Palaearctic
Biology
Status: Widespread and locally common, though may be absent from Scotland.
Habitat: Usually near water e.g. sea cliffs, fens, bogs, marshes, watersides and peat cuttings.
Host plant: Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate in stems e.g. of dead bulrushes.
Food: Various parts of host plant - adults start on young tips prior to leaf opening, then move onto leaves; larvae start on leaf and flower buds, moving onto any part of the plant as they develop and can cause complete defoliation.
Other notes: Hymenopteran parasites: larvae parasitised by Homalotylus flaminius (Encyrtidae) and Closterocerus caterinae (Eulophidae); Adults parasitised by Centistes rufithorax (Braconidae).
Habitat: Usually near water e.g. sea cliffs, fens, bogs, marshes, watersides and peat cuttings.
Host plant: Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate in stems e.g. of dead bulrushes.
Food: Various parts of host plant - adults start on young tips prior to leaf opening, then move onto leaves; larvae start on leaf and flower buds, moving onto any part of the plant as they develop and can cause complete defoliation.
Other notes: Hymenopteran parasites: larvae parasitised by Homalotylus flaminius (Encyrtidae) and Closterocerus caterinae (Eulophidae); Adults parasitised by Centistes rufithorax (Braconidae).