Phyllotreta undulata Kutschera, 1860

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Phyllotreta > Phyllotreta undulata

Common name: 

Lesser striped flea beetle

Images

Phyllotreta undulata
Source:
Lech Borowiec

Description

Size: 2-2.8mm
Basic colour: Yellow and black
Pattern colour: Elytra with longitudinal yellow bands
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: Black, sometimes with faint metallic sheen
Leg colour: As basic colour (femora dark, tibiae & tarsi partly pale)
Confusion species: Phyllotreta nemorum

Palaearctic, possibly including Algeria; introduced into North America, Oceania, Australia and New Zealand.

Biology

Status: Common and widespread
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various wild and cultivated Brassicaceae, sometimes also wild mignonette (Reseda luteola), sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima) and nasturtium (Tropaeolium majus); occasionally on trees.
Overwintering: As adults in haystacks and associated refuse, grass tussocks, under bark, in moss and in rotting logs.
Food: Adults on leaves and possibly pollen, larvae in roots
Other notes: Adults parasitised by braconid wasps Perilitus areolatus & P. bicolor, the microspridian Nosema phyllotretae and the nematode Howardula phyllotretae,

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)