Knotweed leaf beetle

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Knotweed leaf beetle
Knotweed leaf beetle (Gastrophysa polygoni) - preparation

Knotweed leaf beetle ( Gastrophysa polygoni ) - preparation

Systematics
Family : Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)
Subfamily : Chrysomelinae
Tribe : Chrysomelini
Genre : Gastrophysa
Subgenus : Gastrophysa
Type : Knotweed leaf beetle
Scientific name
Gastrophysa polygoni
( Linnaeus , 1758)
Knotweed leaf beetle
Knotweed leaf beetle, female with distended abdomen

The Knöterichblattkäfer ( Gastrophysa polygoni ) is a beetle from the family of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae).

features

The knotweed leaf beetle is 4–7 mm long. The head, the outer antennae and the ends of the tarsi are dark in color. The wing covers are shimmering metallic blue or green. The pronotum, the legs with the exception of the ends of the tarsi, and the first four antennae segments are colored yellow-orange.

Synonyms

  • Chrysomela obtusa Müller , 1776
  • Chrysomela polygoni Linnaeus , 1758
  • Gastroidea polygoni ( Linnaeus , 1758)
  • Gastrophysa polygoni elongata Jolivet , 1951

distribution

The knotweed leaf beetle is native to the Palearctic . It is widespread in Europe. It occurs in the north to central Fennoscandinavia . The species is also represented in the British Isles. To the east, the distribution area extends to Central Asia and Mongolia. The beetle species was introduced in North America.

Way of life

The beetles fly in spring and summer. They feed on knotweed plants , especially bird knotweed ( Polygonum ), water pepper ( Persicaria hydropiper ) and dock ( Rumex ). Before the egg is laid, the abdomen of the females is particularly bloated and protrudes over the wing covers.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Käfer of Central and Northwestern Europe. Parey, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1 , p. 289.
  2. ↑ a b c Gastrophysa polygoni . www.naturespot.org.uk. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ a b Gastrophysa polygoni . bugguide.net. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  4. ^ Karl Wilhelm Harde, Frantisek Severa, Edwin Möhn: Der Kosmos Käferführer: The Central European Beetles. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co KG, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-06959-1 , p. 292.

Web links

Commons : Knotweed leaf beetle ( Gastrophysa polygoni )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files