Longitarsus succineus (Foudras, 1860)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Longitarsus > Longitarsus succineus

Common name: 

Chrysanthemum Flea Beetle

Description

Size: 1.5-2.4mm
Basic colour: Pale dusky yellow
Pattern colour: None (head usually rusty-red)
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour, hind femora darkened (brownish)
Confusion species: Longitarsus aeruginosus
, Confusion species: Longitarsus pellucidus

Palaearctic, including the Middle East and North Africa; introduced into North America.

Biology

Status: Widespread and common (mainly coastal in Ireland)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Asteraceae, sometimes on other plants.
Overwintering: As larvae and possibly eggs.
Food: Adults on leaves; larvae in soil at the roots of common ragwort, Senecio jacobaea
Other notes: Generally paler than the rare L. aeruginosus. Elytral punctures less distinct than those of L. pellucidus. Adults parasitised by larvae of a braconid wasp, probably Perilitus sp.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)