''Chrysolina americana'', common name rosemary beetle, is a species of beetle belonging to the family

Chrysomelidae The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 (and probably at least 50,000) species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle ...

Description

''Chrysolina americana'' can reach a length of . They have colourful elytra with metallic green and purple longitudinal stripes. The wings are quite short, so these beetles can fly for short distances, but most tend to walk. This species feeds on various aromatic

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...

, mainly on rosemary (''

Salvia rosmarinus ''Salvia rosmarinus'' (), commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was known by the scientific name ''Rosmari ...

'') (hence the common name), lavender ('' Lavandula'') and thyme ('' Thymus''). In the Mediterranean region females lay their eggs in late summer on the leaves of the host plants. The larvae show whitish to blackish bands. Larval development continues during the winter months. The pupal stage lasts about three weeks. The imago is released in the spring.

Distribution

Despite the species name ''americana'', this leaf beetle is native and common to southern Europe, North Africa, the Near East and the Middle East.Friedman, A.L.L. (2016). Rosemary beetle ''Chrysolina americana'': A new invasive leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) in Israel. '' Israel Journal of Entomology'' 46: 87–9

/ref>

Introduction to the United Kingdom

This species was first discovered living outdoors in the United Kingdom in 1994. By 2002 it had become widespread in the London area, and spreading rapidly throughout. Although it is susceptible to some

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampri ...

s, it is usually recommended that home growers pick off beetles by hand, or shake them off onto a sheet of paper to remove them, if the plant affected by them is intended for culinary purposes. Otherwise, they do not present a major problem to the host plants, although a large, long- term infestation can be devastating.

Gallery

Rosemary Beetle.jpg, Rosemary beetle, on ''Rosmarinus officinalis'' in Molyvos, Greece Chrysolina americana MHNT Studio.jpg, Image Chrysolina americana MHNT Mating.jpg, Mating Chrysolina-americana-2.jpg, ''Chrysolina americana'' on '' Salvia'' Chrysolina_americana_larve_02.jpg, Larva on ''Rosmarinus officinalis'' Chrysolina-americana-1.jpg, Rosemary beetle on hand

References

Fauna EuropaeaTaxonomy - NCBI
*Alan MacLeod
Pest Risk Analysis For Chrysolina americanaRoyal Horticultural Society page
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1704024 Chrysomelinae Beetles described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus