The rainbow leaf beetle is a member of the family of leaf beetles. It is endangered in certain parts of the world like the United Kingdom, where it is protected by the Wildlife and Countrycol3 Act 1981. Its population in Wales, where the beetle thrived in certain regions, is also on the verge of decline, with just 1000 adults reported in and around the Snowdon mountain ranges.
Size: 5.5 – 10 mm
Color: While the color of these beetles varies, they are generally metallic green covered with three blue and two longitudinal red stripes. When light falls on their body, a golden hue is reflected, resulting in their common name. Their underparts appear dark blue.
The color varies in their subspecies. One of them, namely the Chrysolina cerealis mixta, has metallic blue elytra and pronotum.
Other Characteristic Features: Females tend to be larger than males.
The larvae feed on the flowers of the host plant, though if not available, they can feed on the leaves as well.
After fully maturing, the larva enters the pupal phase that takes place underground, close to the base of the host plant.
Females lay their eggs around June on grasses like the common bent or the sheep’s fescue.
| Other names | Snowdon beetle |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Most Eurasian countries ranging from Norway and northern Italy to Snowdonia in the west to Ussuri in the east |
| Habitat | Forests, meadows, montane grasslands, woodlands, and wastelands |
| Seasons active | April – September |
| Diet of adults | Flowers and leaves of wild thyme |
No known damage is caused by these beetles.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, ourbreathingplanet.com,i.guim.co.uk, s3.amazonaws.com, 64.media.tumblr.com
The rainbow leaf beetle is a member of the family of leaf beetles. It is endangered in certain parts of the world like the United Kingdom, where it is protected by the Wildlife and Countrycol3 Act 1981. Its population in Wales, where the beetle thrived in certain regions, is also on the verge of decline, with just 1000 adults reported in and around the Snowdon mountain ranges.
Size: 5.5 – 10 mm
Color: While the color of these beetles varies, they are generally metallic green covered with three blue and two longitudinal red stripes. When light falls on their body, a golden hue is reflected, resulting in their common name. Their underparts appear dark blue.
The color varies in their subspecies. One of them, namely the Chrysolina cerealis mixta, has metallic blue elytra and pronotum.
Other Characteristic Features: Females tend to be larger than males.
The larvae feed on the flowers of the host plant, though if not available, they can feed on the leaves as well.
After fully maturing, the larva enters the pupal phase that takes place underground, close to the base of the host plant.
Females lay their eggs around June on grasses like the common bent or the sheep’s fescue.
| Other names | Snowdon beetle |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Most Eurasian countries ranging from Norway and northern Italy to Snowdonia in the west to Ussuri in the east |
| Habitat | Forests, meadows, montane grasslands, woodlands, and wastelands |
| Seasons active | April – September |
| Diet of adults | Flowers and leaves of wild thyme |
No known damage is caused by these beetles.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, ourbreathingplanet.com,i.guim.co.uk, s3.amazonaws.com, 64.media.tumblr.com
