Lythraria salicariae (Paykull, 1800)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Lythraria > Lythraria salicariae
Common name:
Loosestrife Flea Beetle
Description
Size: 1.8-2mm
Basic colour: Brownish or reddish-yellow
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Rare
Pronotoum: Usually as basic colour, though darkened in rare cases as is the head.
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Brownish or reddish-yellow
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Rare
Pronotoum: Usually as basic colour, though darkened in rare cases as is the head.
Leg colour: As basic colour
Palaearctic, including within the Arctic Circle in Russia.
Biology
Status: Scattered in England & Wales, old records from Ireland. Scarce (Notable B)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Loosestrifes (Lysimachia spp.), purple-loosestrife (Lyhtrum salicaria). Also known from chickweed-wintergreen (Trientalis europaea) although the beetle does not appear to feed on it.
Overwintering: As adults in moss and plant litter
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.
Other notes: Adults parasitised by larvae of a braconid wasp, probably Perilitus sp.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Loosestrifes (Lysimachia spp.), purple-loosestrife (Lyhtrum salicaria). Also known from chickweed-wintergreen (Trientalis europaea) although the beetle does not appear to feed on it.
Overwintering: As adults in moss and plant litter
Food: Adults on leaves, larvae at roots.
Other notes: Adults parasitised by larvae of a braconid wasp, probably Perilitus sp.