Lochmaea caprea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Lochmaea > Lochmaea caprea

Common name: 

Willow Leaf Beetle

Images

Lochmaea caprea
Source:
Roger Key

Description

Size: 4-6mm
Basic colour: Brownish, ochre-coloured. Head black.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Lochmaea suturalis

Palaearctic

Biology

Status: Widespread and common
Habitat: Various, mainly wetlands
Host plant: Various trees, usually willows and birches
Overwintering: As adults
Food: Adults on host leaves; larvae on willow leaves, although they have also been found feeding on growing tips of crowberry Empetrum nigrum (causing die-back)
Other notes: Adults parasitised by Medina collaris (Diptera: Tachinidae). Adults and larvae predated by pentatomid bugs and aphid-feeding ladybirds. Adults may be consumed by fish such as perch.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)