Longitarsus obliteratoides Gruev, 1973
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Longitarsus > Longitarsus obliteratoides
Description
Size: 1.1-1.5mm
Basic colour: Dark shining bronze or green-bronze, sometimes almost blackish
Pattern colour: None, though punctures on elytra less coarse than in L. obliteratus.
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour, sometimes with a coppery tinge.
Leg colour: As basic colour, hind femora dark reddish-brown
Confusion species: Longitarsus obliteratus
Basic colour: Dark shining bronze or green-bronze, sometimes almost blackish
Pattern colour: None, though punctures on elytra less coarse than in L. obliteratus.
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour, sometimes with a coppery tinge.
Leg colour: As basic colour, hind femora dark reddish-brown
Confusion species: Longitarsus obliteratus
SW Palaearctic.
Biology
Status: Very local on coasts of Wales and SW England. First described in 1973 and some specimens subsequently found to have been confused with L. obliteratus in collections.
Habitat: Sea cliffs, limestone grassland and sandy beaches (not coastal in continental Europe)
Host plant: Breckland thyme, Thymus serpyllum.
Overwintering: Probably as eggs, larvae and adults (i.e. in two generations).
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.
Habitat: Sea cliffs, limestone grassland and sandy beaches (not coastal in continental Europe)
Host plant: Breckland thyme, Thymus serpyllum.
Overwintering: Probably as eggs, larvae and adults (i.e. in two generations).
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.