Longitarsus gracilis Kutschera, 1864
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Longitarsus > Longitarsus gracilis
Description
Size: 2-2.5mm
Basic colour: Pale yellow to yellow-brown. Abdomen brown to blackish.
Pattern colour: None (though see general info above)
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour (see general info above or other forms)
Leg colour: As basic colour (compare with the similar L. ochroleucus which has dark hind femora)
Confusion species: Longitarsus ganglbaueri
, Confusion species: Longitarsus ochroleucus
Basic colour: Pale yellow to yellow-brown. Abdomen brown to blackish.
Pattern colour: None (though see general info above)
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour (see general info above or other forms)
Leg colour: As basic colour (compare with the similar L. ochroleucus which has dark hind femora)
Confusion species: Longitarsus ganglbaueri
, Confusion species: Longitarsus ochroleucus
Western Palaearctic.
Var. poweri is similar to L. ganglbaueri but head is brownish and the sutural stripe ends well before the tip.
Var. nigrothorax has pronotum blackish brown, and may also have a broad sutural stripe.
Biology
Status: Widespread and locally common.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Ragworts (Senecio spp.); sometimes other Asteraceae and occasionally other plants.
Overwintering: Probably as eggs, larvae and adults.
Food: Adults on ragwort leaves, larvae at roots.
Other notes: Adults parasitised by larvae of a braconid wasp (probably Perilitus sp.) and unidentified nematodes.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Ragworts (Senecio spp.); sometimes other Asteraceae and occasionally other plants.
Overwintering: Probably as eggs, larvae and adults.
Food: Adults on ragwort leaves, larvae at roots.
Other notes: Adults parasitised by larvae of a braconid wasp (probably Perilitus sp.) and unidentified nematodes.