Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
287
DAMAGE
Leaves, stems, flowers and seed pods are grazed
extensively, the tissue of heavily infested plants
becoming tattered and often totally destroyed.
Lochmaea caprea
(Linnaeus) (
287-289
)
In mainland Europe a widely distributed and often
common pest of willow (
Salix
) (
=
willow race) and
birch (
Betula
) (
birch race). Poplar (
Populus
) and, less
frequently, alder (
Alnus
) and hornbeam (
Carpinus
betulus
) are also cited as foodplants. Present in the
British Isles but not regarded as a pest.
=
287
Adult of
Lochmaea caprea
.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
4-6 mm long; elongate-oval, the elytra widened
posteriorly; head matt black; thorax brownish yellow,
marked with black, and strongly pitted; elytra brownish
yellow and distinctly sculptured; legs and antennae
black.
Egg:
0.5 mm across; pale yellow to brownish
yellow.
Larva:
up to 6 mm long; head black; body light
green, with numerous black plates and verrucae.
288
LIFE HISTORY
Adult beetles emerge from hibernation in early May.
They then feed on the buds, leaves and young shoots.
Mating takes place in June, eggs being laid in clusters of
10-15, usually just below the surface of the soil
immediately beneath host plants. After egg hatch, larvae
migrate onto the leaves to feed, usually removing the
lower epidermis. Larvae are fully grown in 3-4 weeks.
They then pupate in the soil, young beetles appearing
from the end of August onwards. These adults feed
briefly before overwintering. There is just one
generation annually but, because of the extended
oviposition period (old adults often surviving
throughout the summer), there often appears to be
a second brood. This species favours dry, sunny
situations.
288
Larva of
Lochmaea caprea
.
289
DAMAGE
Affected leaves are severely disfigured, such damage
being most important on young ornamentals and
nursery stock.
289
Lochmaea caprea
larval damage to leaf of
Salix
.
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