Plagiodera versicolora
{{Short description|Species of beetle}}
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|image = Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting, 1781).jpg
|image_caption =
|genus = Plagiodera
|species = versicolora
|authority = Laicharting, 1781
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Plagiodera versicolora is a species of leaf beetle (subfamily Chrysomelinae) in the genus Plagiodera.{{cite web |url=https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000011177 |title=Plagiodera Dejean, 1837 |publisher=National Biodiversity Network |access-date=2017-01-24}}
Description
Plagiodera versicolora grows to 2.5 - 4.8 mm in length and is metallic blue or green, occasionally purplish to black in colour.{{cite web |url=http://www.coleoptera.org.uk/species/plagiodera-versicolora |title=Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting, 1781) |publisher=Coleoptera.org |access-date=2017-01-24}}
Habitat
Plagiodera versicolora lives in various habitats, but usually near water. Adults feed on leaves and pollen of willow and poplar trees, especially Salix fragilis ('crack willow').{{cite book |last=Hubble |first=David |date=2012 |title=Keys to the Adults of Seed and Leaf Beetles of Britain and Ireland |publisher=Field Studies Council |page=52 |ISBN=9781908819086}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://thewcg.org.uk/chrysomelidae/0190g.htm |title=Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting, 1781) |publisher=Watford Coleopter Group |access-date=2017-01-24}} Fully developed larvae may be found from June onwards and pupation occurs under the leaves of the host plant. Freshly emerged adults occur from mid-July and fly in hot weather, occasionally found far from their hosts, especially along river margins.
Distribution
It is fairly common in central and southern England, with scattered records from Wales and Ireland and no records from Scotland. It has been introduced in North America.[https://bugguide.net/node/view/56534 Bugguide.net. Species Plagiodera versicolora - Imported Willow Leaf Beetle]
Gallery
File:Plagiodera versicolora (27469729880).jpg|Plagiodera versicolora
File:Plagiodera versicolora01.jpg|
File:Plagiodera versicolora (27713667286).jpg|
File:Plagiodera versicolora larva adults.jpg|Larva and adults
References
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External links
- [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/name/Plagiodera_versicolora List of references for Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting, 1781) at Biodiversity Heritage Library]
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