Chrysolina fastuosa
Intensive leaf beetle on sage - germander
The Magnificent leaf beetle or Gold Shiny Leaf Beetle ( Chrysolina fastuosa ) is a beetle of the family of leaf beetles ( Chrysomelidae ).
Features
The Magnificent leaf beetle is only about five millimeters long. The exoskeleton shines strong and metallic blue, green, red and purple colors. The coloration varies here from animal to animal, but found in most specimens a blue longitudinal stripes on the wing covers and two blue spots on the thorax. The body is built oval shaped and stocky. On the wing covers a number of longitudinal strips of dots can be seen. The first three antennal segments are yellow -brown, the rest are dark, the sensor end is slightly thickened. The legs shine green.
Subspecies
- Chrysolina fastuosa andorrensis BECHYNE, 1950
- Chrysolina fastuosa biroi Csiki, 1953
- Chrysolina fastuosa fastuosa ( Scopoli, 1763)
- Chrysolina fastuosa inexplicabilis ( Brancsik, 1910)
- Chrysolina fastuosa ventricosa ( Suffrian, 1858)
Synonyms
- Coccinella fastuosa Scopoli, 1763
- Dlochrysa fastuosa ( Scopoli )
Occurrence
The beetles are widely used in Europe. They inhabit open or bush -rich terrain, such as hedgerows, fallow land, grassland or forest edges.
Way of life
The diurnal animals usually sit at labiates, whose leaves they feed on. They fly only reluctantly. In the spring the female lays the eggs on the food plant. The larvae feed as the full-grown animals. After a few months, the larva pupates. From the doll slip the finished beetle that can be found from April to August.