Chrysomela populi
Dorsal view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Chrysomelinae
Tribe: Chrysomelini
Genus: Chrysomela
Species:
C. populi
Binomial name
Chrysomela populi
Synonyms[1]
  • Chrysomela populi violaceicollis Bechyné, 1954
  • Melasoma parvicollis Jakob, 1955
  • Melasoma populi (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Melasoma populi asiatica Jakob, 1952
  • Melasoma populi nigricollis Jakob, 1952
  • Melasoma populi kitaica Jakob, 1952

Chrysomela populi is a species of broad-shouldered leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae.

Distribution

This species is one of the most widespread and frequent species of leaf beetles from the subfamily Chrysomelinae. These beetles can be found in most of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland),[2] in the Palearctic realm and in the Oriental realm (Caucasus, Pakistan, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Far East of Russia, China and Japan).[3][4]

Side view. Notice the small black spot on the hindside

Habitat

These beetles mainly inhabit coniferous, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest fringes and dry meadows with poplars and willow trees.[3][5]

Description

Larva description

The larvae of the species is white or light grey coloured with black dots.[6]

Adult description

Chrysomela populi can reach a length of about 9–13 mm.[3][5] The female is slightly larger than the male. These beetles show a black, dark blue or dark green body, that is round and ladybird-like. Head and pronotum are black, while elytra is bright red, with a black stain at the base.[5] Some beetles come as orange coloured.[3][7]

It can be distinguished from Chrysolina grossa by its shorter antennae and less estensive pronotum. It is also rather similar to Chrysomela saliceti and Chrysomela tremula.

Biology

Adults can be found from April to October.[5] Females lay eggs in Spring, in small, irregular clusters of up to 20-30 eggs. This species has 2 to 3 generations per year. Larvae of the last generation overwinter in the litter under the leaves. Both the larvae and the beetles live and feed on young leaves of various plants of the Salicaceae species, especially Populus and Salix species.[4][3][5][8] Adults may emit a red, highly-smelling, repellent liquid, obtained from the salicylic acid contained in their food plants.

References

Wikispecies has information related to Chrysomela populi.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysomela populi.
  1. ↑ Kippenberg, H. (2010). "Subfamily Chrysomelinae Latreille, 1802". In Löbl, I.; Smetana, A. (eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 6. Chrysomeloidea. Stenstrup, Denmark: Apollo Books. pp. 390–443. ISBN 978-87-88757-84-2.
  2. ↑ Fauna europaea
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Bukejs, Andris. On Latvian Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): 2. Genus Chrysomela Linnaeus, 1758
  4. 1 2 Urban, J. Occurrence, bionomics and harmfulness of Chrysomela populi L. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae Journal of Forest Science. — 2006. — Vol. 52, no. 6
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 UK Safari
  6. ↑ Larvae description
  7. ↑ Orange colour
  8. ↑ Sylvie La Spina, Jean-Claude Gregoire, Patrick Mertens & CharlesDe-Canniere - Impact of poplar water status on leaf-beetle (Chrysomela populi) survival and feeding - Annals of Forest Science. — 2010. — Vol. 67. — P. 209. DOI:10.1051/forest/2009102


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