Blue willow beetle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
Family: | Chrysomelidae |
Genus: | Phratora |
Species: | P. vulgatissima
|
Binomial name | |
Phratora vulgatissima |
The blue willow beetle (Phratora vulgatissima), formerly Phyllodecta vulgatissima, is a herbivourous beetle of the family Chrysomelidae. It is dark with a metallic sheen that ranges from a blue color to bronze. It is distinguished from P. vitellinae by the latter more commonly displaying bronze coloration. European Phratora species can be distinguished based on morphology of female genitalia. [1] The larvae undergo three instar stages from hatching to pupation. [2] This beetle is found throughout Europe and Scandinavia, [3] and occurs in China. [4]
The blue willow beetle is found on willow (Salix) species, whose leaves contain low levels of salicylates [5] [6] in fens, carrs and on river banks, but also often in willow short rotation coppice and other agricultural landscapes. [7] It often aggregates on host plants. [8] On Salix cinerea, it prefers and is more common on female than male trees despite higher egg predation exerted by the common flowerbug Anthocoris nemorum on female trees. [9] It is univoltine in Sweden [2] but can produce multiple generations per year in other parts of its distribution range. [10] Proliferation of larvae and egg production varies with vegetation. [11] It overwinters under lichens on trees and under tree bark. [12] Predators of blue willow beetle eggs include A. nemorum and Orthotylus marginalis. Larval predators include A. nemorum, the bug Rhacognathus punctatus, [10] a syrphid fly (possibly Parasyrphus nigritarsis) [13] and the wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus. [14] Adult beetles are parasitized by the wasp Perilitus brevicollis [15] and consumed by R. punctatus. [13]
In Europe, the blue willow beetle can become a severe herbivore pest on willows. [16] For plantations of common osier (Salix viminalis), herbivory reducing biomass production by up to 40% has been estimated. [17] It is susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis and also Spinosad when treatment is applied to affected plants. [18]
Blue willow beetle | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
Family: | Chrysomelidae |
Genus: | Phratora |
Species: | P. vulgatissima
|
Binomial name | |
Phratora vulgatissima |
The blue willow beetle (Phratora vulgatissima), formerly Phyllodecta vulgatissima, is a herbivourous beetle of the family Chrysomelidae. It is dark with a metallic sheen that ranges from a blue color to bronze. It is distinguished from P. vitellinae by the latter more commonly displaying bronze coloration. European Phratora species can be distinguished based on morphology of female genitalia. [1] The larvae undergo three instar stages from hatching to pupation. [2] This beetle is found throughout Europe and Scandinavia, [3] and occurs in China. [4]
The blue willow beetle is found on willow (Salix) species, whose leaves contain low levels of salicylates [5] [6] in fens, carrs and on river banks, but also often in willow short rotation coppice and other agricultural landscapes. [7] It often aggregates on host plants. [8] On Salix cinerea, it prefers and is more common on female than male trees despite higher egg predation exerted by the common flowerbug Anthocoris nemorum on female trees. [9] It is univoltine in Sweden [2] but can produce multiple generations per year in other parts of its distribution range. [10] Proliferation of larvae and egg production varies with vegetation. [11] It overwinters under lichens on trees and under tree bark. [12] Predators of blue willow beetle eggs include A. nemorum and Orthotylus marginalis. Larval predators include A. nemorum, the bug Rhacognathus punctatus, [10] a syrphid fly (possibly Parasyrphus nigritarsis) [13] and the wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus. [14] Adult beetles are parasitized by the wasp Perilitus brevicollis [15] and consumed by R. punctatus. [13]
In Europe, the blue willow beetle can become a severe herbivore pest on willows. [16] For plantations of common osier (Salix viminalis), herbivory reducing biomass production by up to 40% has been estimated. [17] It is susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis and also Spinosad when treatment is applied to affected plants. [18]