Plagiodera versicolora

Plagiodera versicolora
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Chrysomelidae
Genus:	Plagiodera
Species:	P. versicolora
Binomial name
	Plagiodera versicolora; Laicharting, 1781

Plagiodera versicolora is a species of leaf beetle (subfamily Chrysomelinae) in the genus Plagiodera.^[1]

Description

Plagiodera versicolora grows to 2.5 - 4.8 mm in length and is metallic blue or green, occasionally purplish to black in colour.^[2]

Habitat

Plagiodera versicolora lives in various habitats, but usually near water.^[2] Adults feed on leaves and pollen of willow and poplar trees, especially Salix fragilis ('crack willow').^[2]^[3] It is predated by the shieldbug Zicrona caerulea, several ladybird species and the larva of a hoverfly (Parasyrphus sp.).

Life cycle

Adults overwinter under logs, loose bark and among vegetable litter near the host plant and become active during April.^[4] Fully developed larvae may be found from June onwards and pupation occurs under the leaves of the host plant.^[4] Freshly emerged adults occur from mid-July and fly in hot weather, occasionally found far from their hosts, especially along river margins.^[4]

Distribution

It is fairly common in central and southern England, with scattered records from Wales and Ireland and no records from Scotland.^[2] It has been introduced in North America.^[5]