Psylliodes chalcomera (Illiger, 1807)
Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Psylliodes > Psylliodes chalcomera
Description
Size: 2.6-3.4mm
Basic colour: Metallic blue or greenish-blue, sometimes bronze
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: Reddish; hind femora darkened (compare with P. hyoscyami although this may be extinct in the UK)
Confusion species: Psylliodes hyoscyami
Basic colour: Metallic blue or greenish-blue, sometimes bronze
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: Reddish; hind femora darkened (compare with P. hyoscyami although this may be extinct in the UK)
Confusion species: Psylliodes hyoscyami
Palaearctic, including North Africa
Biology
Status: Widespread but local; rare in Scotland, no definite records for Ireland. Scarce (Notable B)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Asteraceae, mainly thistles (Cirsium spp.)
Overwintering: As adults
Food: Adults on leaves; larvae in thistle buds and shoots, or as leaf-miners in the main vein.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Asteraceae, mainly thistles (Cirsium spp.)
Overwintering: As adults
Food: Adults on leaves; larvae in thistle buds and shoots, or as leaf-miners in the main vein.