Luperus viridipennis

Luperus viridipennis is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae.[1][2][3]

Luperus viridipennis
Female on alder
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Galerucinae
Tribe: Luperini
Genus: Luperus
Species:
L. viridipennis
Binomial name
Luperus viridipennis
Germar, 1824
Synonyms
  • Crioceris coerulescens Duftschmidt, 1825

Distribution and habitat

This species is mainly present in most of Europe (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine)[4][5] and in Central Asia.

These montane beetles occur in the Alps, Carpathians, Balkans, South Urals and in mountains of Central Asia, [6] at an elevation of 1,350–1,600 metres (4,430–5,250 ft) above sea level. [7]

Description

Luperus viridipennis can reach a body length of 3.75–4.15 mm. [8] Males are rather smaller than females. These chrysomelid beetles have punctuated bluish-black elytrae and an orange pronotum. The head shows reddish mandibles and prominent eyes. The first antennal sections and the legs are partly reddish, while the base of femurs and tarsi are brownish. [9]

Biology

Adults can be found from July to August. [7] This polyphagous species parasites various deciduous trees, but lives mainly on alder (mainly on Alnus viridis) and damages their leaves.[10] These beetles can also be found on Betula, Fagus, Ribes andSorbus species. Larvae feed on grass roots. They hibernate as mature larvae. [11]

References

  1. Biolib
  2. Chrysomelidae.it
  3. Biodiversity Map at Biomap.pl
  4. Fauna Europaea
  5. GBIF
  6. Cassidae.uni
  7. Pawlowski J. The Beetles of Babia Gora Mountain (Polish Western Carpathians
  8. J. M. Vela and G. Bastazo - Morphological and genital patterns distinguishing Luperus Geoffroy, 1762 and Calomicrus Dillwyn, 1824 (Col. Chrysomelidae)
  9. Les Insectes. Les Chrysomeles, une famille colorée mais souvent phytophage
  10. Entomofauna of the Kuril Islands
  11. Plant Parasites of Europe
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