Tansy beetle

Not to be confused with Tansy ragwort flea beetle.

Tansy beetle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Chrysolina
Subgenus: Euchrysolina
Species:
C. graminis
Binomial name
Chrysolina graminis
Synonyms
  • Chrysomela fulgida Fabricius, 1801
  • Chrysomela graminis Linnaeus, 1758
  • Chrysolina nigrocuprea Mallet, 1924
  • Chrysolina taupini Mallet, 1924

The tansy beetle[1] (Chrysolina graminis) is a species of leaf beetle. The common name derives from its main foodplant, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), but it can also use other wetland plants such as gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). It measures 7.7–10.5 mm in length and has a characteristic bright metallic green colouration, with pitted elytra and a coppery tinge. In addition to the nominotypical subspecies, which repeats the specific name, C. graminis graminis, there are five further distinct subspecies of tansy beetle, which, collectively, have a Palearctic distribution, although in the majority of countries where it is found the species is declining.[2] In the United Kingdom it is designated as 'Nationally Rare'.[1] The stronghold population here is located along the banks of the river Ouse in York, North Yorkshire.[3] Other, small, fenland populations exist at Woodwalton Fen and at Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) reserve.

  1. ^ a b c "Chrysolina graminis (Linnaeus, 1758) [Tansy Beetle]". Nationally Biodiversity Network. 2012–2013. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Chrysolina graminis". Fauna Europaea. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  3. ^ Chapman, D.S.; Sivell, D.; Oxford, G.S.; Dytham, C. (2006). "Ecology of the tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) in Britain". The Naturalist. 131: 41–54.