Blue willow beetle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Chrysomelidae |
Genus: | Phratora |
Species: | P. vulgatissima |
Binomial name | |
Phratora vulgatissima (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The blue willow beetle (Phratora vulgatissima), formerly Phyllodecta vulgatissima, is a herbivourous beetle of the family Chrysomelidae. It is dark with a metallic sheen that ranges from a blue color to bronze. It is distinguished from P. vitellinae by the latter more commonly displaying bronze coloration. European Phratora species can be distinguished based on morphology of female genitalia. The larvae undergo three instar stages from hatching to pupation. This beetle is found throughout Europe and Scandinavia, and occurs in China.
Ecology
The blue willow beetle is found on willow (Salix) species, whose leaves contain low levels of salicylates in fens, carrs and on river banks, but also often in willow short rotation coppice and other agricultural landscapes. It often aggregates on host plants. On Salix cinerea, it prefers and is more common on female than male trees despite higher egg predation exerted by the common flowerbug Anthocoris nemorum on female trees. It is univoltine in Sweden but can produce multiple generations per year in other parts of its distribution range. Proliferation of larvae and egg production varies with vegetation. It overwinters under lichens on trees and under tree bark. Predators of blue willow beetle eggs include A. nemorum and Orthotylus marginalis. Larval predators include A. nemorum, the bug Rhacognathus punctatus, a syrphid fly (possibly Parasyrphus nigritarsis) and the wasp Symmorphus bifasciatus. Adult beetles are parasitized by the wasp Perilitus brevicollis and consumed by R. punctatus.
As a pest
In Europe, the blue willow beetle can become a severe herbivore pest on willows. For plantations of common osier (Salix viminalis), herbivory reducing biomass production by up to 40% has been estimated. It is susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis and also Spinosad when treatment is applied to affected plants.
References
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- Kendall, D A (1996). "Phenology and population dynamics of willow beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in short rotation coppice willows at Long Ashton". Biofuels Study.
- ^ Rank, N. E.; Smiley, J. T.; Köpf, A. (1996). "Natural enemies and host plant relationships for chrysomeline leaf beetles feeding on Salicaceae". In P. H. Jolivet; M. L. Cox (eds.). Chrysomelidae Biology. Vol. 2: Ecological Studies. Amsterdam: SPB Publishing. pp. 147–171.
- Blüthgen, P. (1961). Die Faltenwespen Mitteleuropas (Hymenoptera, Diploptera). Berlin: Akademie Verlag.
- J.A. Stenberg (2012). "Plant-mediated effects of different Salix species on the performance of the braconid parasitoid Perilitus brevicollis". Biological Control. 60: 54–58. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.09.004.
- J. Stenberg; A. Lehrman; C. Björkman (2010). "Uncoupling direct and indirect plant defences: Novel opportunities for improving crop security in willow plantations". Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 139 (4): 528–533. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.09.013.
- C. Björkman; S. Höglund; K. Eklund & S. Larsson (2000). "Effects of leaf beetle damage on stem wood production in coppicing willow". Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 2 (2): 131–139. doi:10.1046/j.1461-9563.2000.00058.x. S2CID 85412547.
- Helbig, C.; Müller, M.; Landgraf, D. (2011). "Insect pests in short rotation coppice in Germany—An overview of their effects, risk potential and control measures". Short Rotation Forestry and Agroforestry: An Exchange of Experience between CDM Countries and Europe. Benwood Project Consortium. pp. 46–56. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.432.2300.
Taxon identifiers | |
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Phratora vulgatissima |
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