''Byturus ochraceus'' is a species of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

in the fruitworm family

Byturidae Byturidae, also known as Fruitworms, is a very small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga, comprising fewer than 20 species worldwide.C.A. Springer & M.A. Goodrich (1994) A Revision of the Subfamily Platydascillinae (Coleoptera: Byturidae ...

Description

It is morphologically very similar to other members of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

'' Byturus''. All species of this genus are unlikely to be confused with any other family. ''Byturus ochraceus'' measures 4.0–4.6 mm in length, are coloured yellow-brown with yellow hairs across the body. The

pronotum The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum (ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on ea ...

is unevenly curved to the front so a front angle is apparent. The long diameter of the eyes is clearly greater than half the width of the frons. The underside is coloured dark brown to black. Some individuals change colour to grey-brown by June.

Habitat and lifecycle

''Byturus ochraceus'' adults are active from May until July. They are associated with a large range of host plants including: ''

Taraxacum officinale ''Taraxacum officinale'', the dandelion or common dandelion, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the dandelion genus in the family Asteraceae (syn. Compositae). The common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn i ...

'', ''

Salix Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

'', ''

Caltha palustris ''Caltha palustris'', known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flower ...

'', '' Potentilla anserina'', ''

Anthriscus sylvestris ''Anthriscus sylvestris'', known as cow parsley, wild chervil, wild beaked parsley, Queen Anne's lace or keck, is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), genus ''Anthriscus''. It is also some ...

'', ''

Geum urbanum ''Geum urbanum'', also known as wood avens, herb Bennet, colewort and St. Benedict's herb (Latin ''herba benedicta''), is a perennial plant in the rose family (Rosaceae), which grows in shady places (such as woodland edges and near hedgerows) in ...

'', ''

Geranium robertianum ''Geranium robertianum'', commonly known as herb-Robert, or (in North America) Roberts geranium, is a common species of cranesbill native to Europe and parts of Asia, and North Africa. The plant has many vernacular names, including red robin, de ...

'', '' Alliaria officinale'', '' Hieracium praealtum'', ''

Silene dioica ''Silene dioica'' ( syn. ''Melandrium rubrum''), known as red campion and red catchfly, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native throughout central, western and northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe. It has ...

'', '' Stellaria nemorum'', '' Lactuca muralis'', and ''

Ranunculus repens ''Ranunculus repens'', the creeping buttercup, is a flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Asia and northwestern Africa. Habitat It is a very common weed of agricultural land and gardens, spreading quickly by it ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2293261 Beetles of Europe Beetles described in 1790 Byturidae