Cryptocephalus sericeus

Cryptocephalus sericeus is a species of cylindrical leaf beetles of the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae.

Cryptocephalus sericeus
Cryptocephalus sericeus zambanellus. Upperside
Cryptocephalus sericeus. Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Superfamily:
Chrysomeloidea
Family:
Chrysomelidae
Subfamily:
Cryptocephalinae
Genus:
Cryptocephalus
Species:
C. sericeus
Binomial name
Cryptocephalus sericeus
Synonyms
  • Chrysomela sericea Linnaeus, 1758

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[1]

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic ecozone from Siberia east to North Western China and in the Near East. It is not present in the British Isles.[2]

Habitat

These beetles inhabit lawns and meadows, especially with yellow flowers of Apiaceae species.

Description

Cryptocephalus sericeus can reach a length of about 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in). The body of these little beetles is squat, cylindrical and almost oval. Elytra are irregularly punctured, not arranged in longitudinal rows. They do not completely cover the last part of the abdomen. Pronotum and elytra are golden green in males, while females show a metallic bronze color, with green-blue, orange or yellow reflections.[3] The antennas are thread-shaped and relatively long. The head, the legs, and antennae are dark colored.

This species is rather similar to Cryptocephalus aureolus, Cryptocephalus praticola, Cryptocephalus solivagus, Cryptocephalus therondi and Cryptocephalus hypochoeridis.

Biolib

Adults can be found from April to July. The feed on pollen, especially on the yellow flowers of Apiaceae species. Larvae feed on leaves of the host plants. They live in a housing that consists of their own droppings. The pupation takes place in the soil.

  • Cryptocephalus sericeus sericeus
  • Front view
  • Cryptocephalus sericeus of varying colors

References
  1. Biolib
  2. Fauna europaea
  3. "Insetti e animali {{in lang|it}}". Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  • Michael Chinery, Insectes de France et d'Europe occidentale, Paris, Flammarion, 2012, 320 p. (ISBN 978-2-0812-8823-2), p. 282-283
  • Novak, P., 1964 - I Coleotteri della Dalmazia - Atti Mus. civico Storia Nat., Trieste, 24: 53-113
  • Petitpierre, E., 2000 - Fauna Iberica. Vol. 13. Coleoptera Chrysomelidae I. - Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid, 521 pp.
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