Exosoma lusitanicum

Exosoma lusitanicum

Exosoma lusitanicum (also Exosoma lusitanica and Malacosoma lusitanica ) is a beetle of the family of leaf beetles and the subfamily Galerucinae. The genus Exosoma is represented in Europe with four species, of which only Exosoma lusitanica radiates to Central Europe.

The genus name is from the Ancient Greek Exosoma ἕξω, EXO, ' outside ' and σῶμα, , soma ' body ' derived. The species name lusitanicus ( Latin, Portugal, Lusitania, occurrent ') refers to the However, larger distribution area of ​​the Art

Characteristics of the beetle

The predominantly red-yellow and shiny as lacquered beetle is between 6.5 and ten millimeters long. He is elongated oval and hairless.

The head is as the sensor, legs and chest underside black. The round eyes are convex. The outer edge of the eye is ciliated long fitting. The eleven-membered sensors are turned in between the eyes halfway eye level and approached each other at the base standard. You can reach the posterior half of the elytra. The second sensor member is spherical, the third is twice as long as wide. From the third member of the antennal segments are extended to each end and inside.

The very finely punctured pronotum is uniformly convex and without bumps. It is wider than long and tapers forwardly to almost the width of the head. The anterior margin is ciliate with very fine hairs. He is bulged flat. The front corners are obtuse, rounded rear corners.

The elytra are punctured dense and fine. At the base, they are much wider than along the trailing edge of the throat plate. Backward they widen more than a little behind they are rounded in common. A border strip of the elytra ( Epipleuren ) is clearly separated. The black scutellum is rounded triangular.

The front hips are separated by a narrow, keel- shaped extension of the forechest to the rear ( Prosternalfortsatz ). The Prosternalfortsatz not reached the center chest. The tarsi appear as leaf beetles common to four members ( kryptopentamer ).

Biology

The species is polyphagous and is found among other things, milkweed, cornflower and Exceptional ragwort. Therefore they might be harmful to wine. It is tied to the locations of the host plants in hot dry areas. Exosoma lusitanicum occurs both in the level and up to altitudes of thousands of feet.

Dissemination

The species is widespread western Mediterranean ( North Africa, Spain and Portugal, France, Switzerland and Italy, and in Sicily and Sardinia ), but was also reported from the Middle East.