Phaedon cochleariae (Fabricius, 1792)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Phaedon > Phaedon cochleariae
Common name:
Water-cress Beetle
Images
Source:
Roger Key
Description
Size: 3-4mm
Basic colour: Bright metallic blue, sometimes purplish, rarely bronze-brown or brassy.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Phaedon armoraciae
, Confusion species: Phaedon concinnus
Basic colour: Bright metallic blue, sometimes purplish, rarely bronze-brown or brassy.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Phaedon armoraciae
, Confusion species: Phaedon concinnus
Biology
Status: Common and widespread.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Brassicaceae, including Water-cress; sometimes on flowering gorse.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate from October to April.
Food: Leaves of host plants (adults may also feed on gorse pollen).
Other notes: Similar to C. armoraciae, but without the basal elytral impression along stria 5. It can also be confused with the rare metallic blue form of P. concinnus. However, in P. concinnus, the antennae are entirely black; in P. cochleariae, the underside of the 2nd & 3rd antennal segments are reddish (or at least with a reddish spot).
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Brassicaceae, including Water-cress; sometimes on flowering gorse.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate from October to April.
Food: Leaves of host plants (adults may also feed on gorse pollen).
Other notes: Similar to C. armoraciae, but without the basal elytral impression along stria 5. It can also be confused with the rare metallic blue form of P. concinnus. However, in P. concinnus, the antennae are entirely black; in P. cochleariae, the underside of the 2nd & 3rd antennal segments are reddish (or at least with a reddish spot).
Articles
Read, R.W.J. (1992). Swimming in Phaedon cochleariae (F.) (Chrysomelidae). The Coleopterist 1(3): 27.