Willow Flea Beetle
Crepidodera aurata
This record describes Crepidodera aurata (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Size about 3 mm. This leaf flea beetle has an overall shiny metallic appearance and is bicoloured; the head and pronotum being a reddish or coppery bronze edged by green or blue, whilst the elytra are uniformly green or blue-green and are studded by rows of holes. Frequents various species of Willow and may be found wherever Willows grow. All year round, but most active from spring to autumn. There is a single generation and adults occur throughout the year, hibernating under bark or among debris etc around logs. They become active early in the spring and may be swept from trees around the time the leaf buds begin to open. Frequent and widely distributed below a line from north Wales to Middlesbrough, further north there are a few records from Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Chrysomelidae
- Genus
- Crepidodera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequents various species of Willow and may be found wherever Willows grow.
Seasonal Activity
All year round, but most active from spring to autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
There is a single generation and adults occur throughout the year, hibernating under bark or among debris etc around logs. They become active early in the spring and may be swept from trees around the time the leaf buds begin to open.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Frequent and widely distributed below a line from north Wales to Middlesbrough, further north there are a few records from Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Crepidodera aurata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Willow Flea Beetle (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Willow Flea Beetle
What is Willow Flea Beetle?
Willow Flea Beetle (Crepidodera aurata) is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Willow Flea Beetle?
about 3 mm. This leaf flea beetle has an overall shiny metallic appearance and is bicoloured; the head and pronotum being a reddish or coppery bronze edged by green or blue, whilst the elytra are uniformly green or blue-green and are studded by rows of holes.
Where is Willow Flea Beetle found?
Habitat: Frequents various species of Willow and may be found wherever Willows grow.
When is Willow Flea Beetle active?
Willow Flea Beetle: seasonal activity - All year round, but most active from spring to autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Willow Flea Beetle?
There is a single generation and adults occur throughout the year, hibernating under bark or among debris etc around logs. They become active early in the spring and may be swept from trees around the time the leaf buds begin to open.