Psylliodes chrysocephala (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Psylliodes > Psylliodes chrysocephala

Common name: 

Cabbage-stem flea beetle

Images

Psylliodes chrysocephala
Source:
Lech Borowiec

Description

Size: 3-4.5mm
Basic colour: Variable; usually metallic blue, var. anglica has elytra yellowish to pale brown; may have elytra metallic blue and pronotum yellowish to reddish.
Pattern colour: See basic colour
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Many and common
Pronotoum: See basic colour
Leg colour: Orange-red, hind femora darkened.

Western Palaearctic, including Macaronesia, Cape Verde and North Africa; introduced into Canada.

Biology

Status: Common and widespread
Habitat: Various, wherever the host plants grow
Host plant: Various wild and cultivated Brassicaceae
Overwintering: Probably as adults and larvae
Food: Adults on leaves and possibly pollen. Larvae are stem-miners and can also be found in seed pods and leaf stalks (petioles)
Other notes: Larvae parasitised by various Hymenoptera. Adults also affected by fungal pathogens. Larvae parasitised by nematodes. Various other beetles (adults and larvae) predate eggs and larvae of this flea beetle.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)