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Species Neogalerucella calmariensis - Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle

Beetle underside - Neogalerucella calmariensis Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle? - Neogalerucella calmariensis - male - female Purple Loosestrife Beetles - Neogalerucella calmariensis - male - female Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle - Neogalerucella calmariensis Neogalerucella? - Neogalerucella calmariensis Neogalerucella calmariensis Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle - Neogalerucella calmariensis Beetle - Neogalerucella calmariensis
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Subfamily Galerucinae (Skeletonizing Leaf Beetles and Flea Beetles)
Tribe Galerucini
No Taxon (Section Atysites)
Genus Neogalerucella (Purple Loosestrife Beetles)
Species calmariensis (Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Galerucella calmariensis
Explanation of Names
Author: Linnaeus, 1767
Identification
"Light brown, usually with a black triangle or a broad, dark stripe on the thorax. The body has parallel sides, is 3-5 mm long and half as wide, and is punctuated with coarse dots and fine, dense hairs." - Cornell
Range
Native to the entire Palaearctic Region(1); introduced since 1992 in a number of ne. and nw. US states and several areas in Canada
Food
Very specific host, the invasive purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. It is not known to feed on any native plants.
Life Cycle
Female lays 300-400 eggs per year. Pupation occurs in the soil. From egg to adult takes about 6 weeks, and the adult lives 8-10 weeks. One generation per year.
Remarks
Imported from Europe as a biocontrol to combat purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Internet References
Habitus and genitalia on European Chrysomelidae webpage