Green sorrel beetle
| Green sorrel beetle | ||||||||||||
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Sorrel beetle ( Gastrophysa viridula ), male |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Gastrophysa viridula | ||||||||||||
| ( De Geer , 1775) |
The sorrel beetle ( Gastrophysa viridula ), also called the dock leaf beetle , is a beetle from the family of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae).
features
The green sorrel beetle reaches a body length of four to seven millimeters. Females become significantly larger than males. The very smooth body and the wings shimmer metallic in many colors. Depending on the incidence of light, the color can range from green, blue, red to purple and purple. The abdomen is significantly larger in females and can be puffy (slightly "physogastric") during the mating season and especially before the egg is laid. The abdomen, pronotum and head are clearly separated from each other. The eyes of the green sorrel beetle are on the front side of the head. The feelers are of medium length and have a slightly sawn shape. The legs are predominantly greenish and have a strong build.
Subspecies
- Gastrophysa viridula pennina ( Weise , 1882) - Italy, Switzerland , Tyrol
- Gastrophysa viridula viridula ( De Geer , 1775)
Synonyms
- Gastroidea viridula ( De Geer , 1775)
distribution
The sorrel beetle is widespread in large parts of Central Europe. In the east the distribution area extends to the Caucasus and in places to western Siberia. They mostly live in heathland , on the edges of forests and in larger gardens. It can usually be found on Ampfer ( Rumex ).
Way of life
nutrition
The beetles and their larvae feed phytophagus mainly on dock plants and can cause considerable damage to these plants if they occur in large numbers. Overall, beetles and larvae cause massive scraping and subsequent pitting, which clearly perforates the leaves, even to the point of skeletal damage, and not only has a strong visual impact on the plant. In addition to the sorrel and similar Rumex species from which it is named , a large number of other plants are also attacked. Specifically, host plants from a total of 10 families are described, for example knotweed plants (Polygonaceae), cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae), violet plants (Violaceae) or predatory plants (Boraginaceae). However, full larval development up to the beetle is not possible on all host plants.
Reproduction
The mating season extends from spring to autumn. Usually there are three generations, with the third generation overwintering as a beetle. After successful fertilization, the female lays several hundred eggs. The eggs, which are yellowish in color and oval in shape, are laid in clusters of around 30 to 40 on the underside of the leaves of the forage plants. After a few days, the larvae hatch and are greyish to dark gray in color. The segmented body is strikingly pocky. After three larval stages, the larvae dig a few centimeters deep into the ground to pupate, where the finished beetles hatch after one to two weeks. The flight radius of the hatched animals is small, it is usually less than ten meters. The beetles can be found from April to October.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Gastrophysa (Gastrophysa) viridula pennina (Weise 1882). Fauna Europaea, Version 1.3, April 19, 2007, accessed June 21, 2007 .
- ↑ a b Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Käfer of Central and Northwestern Europe. Parey, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1 .
- ↑ Gastrophysa (Gastrophysa) viridula viridula (De Geer 1775). Fauna Europaea, Version 1.3, April 19, 2007, accessed June 21, 2007 .
Web links
- Gastrophysa (Gastrophysa) viridula in Fauna Europaea