Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Coleoptera (Beetles) ➔ Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf beetles)

Chrysolina (Fastuolina) fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)

Prächtiger Blattkäfer Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle

Synonyms and other combinations:

Coccinella fastuosa Scopoli, 1763 [original combination] | Dlochrysa fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763) |

  • Chrysolina fastuosa 3112
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa
    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald; 2005-07-31 09:55:50
    Image number: 3112

    DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
    2005-07-31 09:55:50
  • Chrysolina fastuosa 3110
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2005-06-09 18:13:32
    Image number: 3110

    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2005-06-09 18:13:32
  • Chrysolina fastuosa 3098
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-08-13 13:29:05
    Image number: 3098

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-08-13 13:29:05
  • Chrysolina fastuosa 3099
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa
    DE, Chemnitz; 2006-07-23 11:07:21
    Image number: 3099

    DE, Chemnitz
    2006-07-23 11:07:21
  • Chrysolina fastuosa, mating 3100
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa, mating
    DE, Chemnitz; 2006-07-23 11:08:38
    Image number: 3100
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz
    2006-07-23 11:08:38
  • Chrysolina fastuosa, mating 3101
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa, mating
    DE, Chemnitz; 2006-07-23 11:10:23
    Image number: 3101
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz
    2006-07-23 11:10:23
  • Chrysolina fastuosa, mating 7434
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa, mating, conf. Holger (HK)
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2016-08-18 09:43:02
    Image number: 7434
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2016-08-18 09:43:02
    conf. Holger (HK)
  • Chrysolina fastuosa 7435
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa, conf. Holger (HK)
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2016-08-18 09:23:09
    Image number: 7435

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2016-08-18 09:23:09
    conf. Holger (HK)
  • Chrysolina fastuosa 7436
    Chrysolina fastuosa (Scopoli, 1763)  Prächtiger Blattkäfer  Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysolina fastuosa
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2016-08-18 09:22:24
    Image number: 7436

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2016-08-18 09:22:24

Classification:
Chrysolina fastuosa belongs to the subfamily Chrysomelinae, tribe Doryphorini.
Distribution:
Widespread in Europe.
Habitat:
Forest edges, roadsides, ruderal areas and extensive grassland.
Description:
Length 5 - 6 mm; upper side gold-green glossy; elytra mostly with variable blue or reddish longitudinal stripes; oval eyes; claw tarsomer of front tarsi below with a strong tooth.
Biology:
The Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle Chrysolina fastuosa forms one generation per year.
The oligophagous species lives on labiates (Lamiaceae) of the genus hemp-nettle (Galeopsis), as well as on some species of deadnettle (Lamium). The imagines appearing in spring first feed on white deadnettle (Lamium album) and then change to the later germinating hemp-nettle. The pale yellow eggs are deposited in the calyxes on the young seeds from June to July. After hatching, the larvae initially eat the seeds and calyxes at night, later they also feed on the underside of leaves. During the day they hide in the seed capsules. In September, after the end of the feeding phase, the larvae are fully developed and go several centimetres deep into the ground to pupate.
About hibernation of Chrysolina fastuosa different data are available. These include hibernation as larva (pre-pupa) or pupa and also as imago.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Rheinheimer, Joachim, & Hassler, Michael: Die Blattkäfer Baden-Württembergs, 2018, 928 pages, Kleinsteuber Books (Karlsruhe), ISBN 978-3-9818110-2-5