Galerucella sagittariae (Gyllenhal, 1813)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Galerucella > Galerucella sagittariae
Images
Source:
Roger Key
Source:
Roger Key
Description
Size: 4-8mm
Basic colour: Yellowish to brownish
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Galerucella nymphaeae
Basic colour: Yellowish to brownish
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Galerucella nymphaeae
Considered to be a species complex with G. nymphaeae but the taxonomic status is unclear; the complex as a whole is more or less Holarctic.
Biology
Status: Widespread and common
Habitat: Various wetlands, beside water-bodies and also in drier habitats.
Host plant: Docks (Rumex spp) and various Rosaceae
Overwintering: Adults hibernate under leaf shealths of bulrush (Typha latifolia)
Food: Leaves of host plants
Other notes: nymphaeae is usually larger and darker (on water-lilies); sagittariae is usually smaller and paler (on various semi-aquatic and terrestrial plants, especially docks Rumex spp and Rosaceae). Larvae and adults predated by Picromerus bidens and Zicrona caerulea (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). In continental Europe, several ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species feed on eggs and larvae.
Habitat: Various wetlands, beside water-bodies and also in drier habitats.
Host plant: Docks (Rumex spp) and various Rosaceae
Overwintering: Adults hibernate under leaf shealths of bulrush (Typha latifolia)
Food: Leaves of host plants
Other notes: nymphaeae is usually larger and darker (on water-lilies); sagittariae is usually smaller and paler (on various semi-aquatic and terrestrial plants, especially docks Rumex spp and Rosaceae). Larvae and adults predated by Picromerus bidens and Zicrona caerulea (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). In continental Europe, several ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species feed on eggs and larvae.