Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
257
DAMAGE
Attacked foliage becomes peppered with large, irregular
holes, weakening and affecting the appearance of host
plants. Damage is of particular significance on young
trees.
Altica lythri
Aubé (
257-259
)
Large blue flea beetle
An occasional pest of
Fuchsia
and certain other
ornamentals, including evening primrose (
Oenothera
)
and
Potentilla fruticosa
, but associated mainly with
wild Onagraceae. Widely distributed in Europe but
local.
257
Large blue flea beetle (
Altica lythri
).
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
4.5-5.5 mm long; bright blue and rather plump;
elytra irregularly punctured and with slightly curved
sides.
Egg:
1.2
258
0.25 mm; whitish orange.
Larva:
up to 12 mm long; head black; body yellowish with
numerous darker plates.
×
LIFE HISTORY
Adults appear from May onwards. They then aggregate
on host plants, notably wild hosts such as rose-bay
(
Chamaenerion angustifolium
), great willow-herb
(
Epilobium hirsutum
) and marsh willow-herb
(
E. palustre
). Eggs are laid singly or in small groups on
the underside of leaves, and hatch about 2-3 weeks
later. The larvae feed on the leaves for several weeks
before pupating in the ground. New adults appear in the
late summer and then hibernate.
258
Eggs of large blue flea beetle (
Altica lythri
).
259
DAMAGE
Infested leaves become notched and covered in
numerous holes, affecting the quality and marketability
of nursery plants. Heavy infestations cause severe
foliage damage, leading to premature leaf fall. Petals of
host plants are also damaged.
Altica ericeti
(Allard)
Heather flea beetle
A locally common species, associated with heather
(
Erica
) and sometimes damaging to such plants in
gardens and nurseries. Adults (4-5 mm long) are
metallic bluish-green, with distinctly punctured elytra.
259
Larva of large blue flea beetle (
Altica lythri
).
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