Leaf Beetle

Description:

6.5-8.5mm. Bright metallic blue to black although black specimens retain a faint blue lustre on the elytra. Pronotum broadest at base, with strongly raised side borders, glabrous and very shiny. Scutellum elongate with sides curved, with a few fine punctures mostly towards base, shining and coloured as pronotum. Elytra with strongly punctured striae, nine on each across centreline and with interstices finely and sparsely punctate. Appendages dark but for claws which are dark yellow and two basal antennal segmants creamy below. Male tarsi more dilated as figured. Larvae feed on cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and adults may be found among the stems and foliage from May onwards although they are adventitious and occur on a variety of low herbage. During overcast weather they rest beneath large leaves, in sunshine they frequent a range of flowers e.g. Hedge parsley or Hogweed.