''Chrysolina grossa'', the red leaf beetle, is a species of ''broad-shouldered leaf beetles'' 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 ...

, subfamily Chrysomelinae.

Subspecies

Species within this genus include: *''Chrysolina grossa chloromaura '' (Olivier, 1807) *''Chrysolina grossa grossa'' (Fabricius, 1792) *''Chrysolina grossa tingitana'' (Escalera, 1914)

Distribution

This species is mainly found in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and former

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

.Fauna europaea
/ref>

Description

''Chrysolina grossa'' can reach a length of about . Head and pronotum show metallic blue-green colours, while elytra are bright red. It can be distinguished from

Chrysomela populi ''Chrysomela populi'' is a species of broad-shouldered leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae. Distribution This species is one of the most widespread and frequent species of leaf beetles from the subfamily Ch ...

for its longer antennae and wider pronotum.

Biology

It feeds on wild plants of the

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 ...

species.

References

* Daccordi, M., 1982 - Chrysomelinae in:Seeno, T.N. & Wilcox, J.A., Leaf beetle genera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) - Entomography Publications, Sacramento

External links

Chrysomelidae of Europe

INPN
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2313888 Chrysomelinae Beetles of Europe Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius Beetles described in 1792