Chrysomela populi

Chrysomela populi is a species of broad-shouldered leaf beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae.

Chrysomela populi
Chrysomela populi. Dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Chrysomelidae
Subfamily:
Chrysomelinae
Genus:
Chrysomela
Species:
C. populi
Binomial name
Chrysomela populi
Synonyms
  • Melasoma populi (Stephens, 1834)

Subspecies
  • Chrysomela populi populi Linnaeus, 1758 [1]
  • Chrysomela populi asiatica Jakob, 1952
  • Chrysomela populi nigricollis Jakob, 1952
  • Chrysomela populi kitaica Jakob, 1952
  • Chrysomela populi violaceicollis Bechyne, 1954

Distribution

This species is one of the most widespread and frequent species of leaf beetles from the subfamily Chrysomelinae. These beetles can be found in most of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland),[2] in the Palearctic realm and in the Oriental realm (Caucasus, Pakistan, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Far East of Russia, China and Japan). [3][4]

Side view. Notice the small black spot on the hindside

Habitat

These beetles mainly inhabit coniferous, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest fringes and dry meadows with poplars and willow trees. [3][5]

Description

Larva description

The larvae of the species is white or light gray coloured with black dots.[6]

Adult description

Chrysomela populi can reach a length of about 9–13 mm. [3][5] The female is slightly larger than the male. These beetles show a black, dark blue or dark green body, that is round and ladybird-like. Head and pronotum are black, while elytra is bright red, with a black stain at the base.[5] Some beetles come as orange coloured. [3][7]

It can be distinguished from Chrysolina grossa by its shorter antennae and less estensive pronotum. It is also rather similar to Chrysomela saliceti and Chrysomela tremulae.

Biology

Adults can be found from April to October.[5] Females lay eggs in Spring, in small, irregular clusters of up to 20-30 eggs. This species has 2 to 3 generations per year. Larvae of the last generation overwinter in the litter under the leaves. Both the larvae and the beetles live and feed on young leaves of various plants of the Salicaceae species, especially Populus and willow species. [4][3][5][8] Adults may emit a red, highly-smelling, repellent liquid, obtained from the salicylic acid contained in their food plants.

  • Mating pair
  • Laying of eggs
  • Larvae
  • Pupa. Dorsal view

References
  1. Biolib
  2. Fauna europaea
  3. Bukejs, Andris. On Latvian Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): 2. Genus Chrysomela Linnaeus, 1758
  4. Urban, J. Occurrence, bionomics and harmfulness of Chrysomela populi L. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae Jornal of Forest Science. — 2006. — Vol. 52, no. 6
  5. UK Safari
  6. Larvae description
  7. Orange colour
  8. Sylvie La Spina, Jean-Claude Gregoire, Patrick Mertens & CharlesDe-Canniere - Impact of poplar water status on leaf-beetle (Chrysomela populi) survival and feeding - Ann. For. Sci.. — 2010. — Vol. 67. — P. 209. DOI:10.1051/forest/2009102


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