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

Chrysomela (Chrysomela) populi Linnaeus, 1758

Großer Pappelblattkäfer Poplar Leaf Beetle

Synonyms and other combinations:

Melasoma populi (Stephens, 1834) |

  • Chrysomela populi  3134
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2005-06-04 13:36:52
    Image number: 3134

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2005-06-04 13:36:52

  • Chrysomela populi  2991
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-05-06 11:46:11
    Image number: 2991

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-05-06 11:46:11

  • Chrysomela populi  2992
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-05-07 11:03:01
    Image number: 2992

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-05-07 11:03:01

  • Chrysomela populi  3120
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz; 2004-08-21 14:00:45
    Image number: 3120

    DE, Chemnitz
    2004-08-21 14:00:45

  • Chrysomela populi  4202
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2010-10-09 12:49:51
    Image number: 4202

    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2010-10-09 12:49:51

  • Chrysomela populi  4707
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2011-06-26 15:47:16
    Image number: 4707

    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2011-06-26 15:47:16

  • Chrysomela populi, mating  10079
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2021-05-09 13:45:05
    Image number: 10079
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2021-05-09 13:45:05

  • Chrysomela populi, mating  4633
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-05-10 17:46:24
    Image number: 4633
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-05-10 17:46:24

  • Chrysomela populi, mating  4634
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-05-10 17:45:50
    Image number: 4634
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-05-10 17:45:50

  • Chrysomela populi, mating  5315
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-05-08 12:34:53
    Image number: 5315
    mating
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-05-08 12:34:53

  • Chrysomela populi, larva  8970
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2019-09-22 13:16:28
    Image number: 8970
    larva
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2019-09-22 13:16:28

  • Chrysomela populi, larva  8971
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2019-09-22 13:05:29
    Image number: 8971
    larva
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2019-09-22 13:05:29

  • Chrysomela populi, larvae  5526
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larvae
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-07-22 11:32:16
    Image number: 5526
    larvae
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-07-22 11:32:16

  • Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)  5527
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-07-22 15:46:31
    Image number: 5527
    larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-07-22 15:46:31

  • Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)  5528
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-07-22 11:34:57
    Image number: 5528
    larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-07-22 11:34:57

  • Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)  5529
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-07-22 15:47:38
    Image number: 5529
    larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-07-22 15:47:38

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  4628
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-06-03 10:09:44
    Image number: 4628
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-06-03 10:09:44

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  4629
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-06-03 10:09:57
    Image number: 4629
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-06-03 10:09:57

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  4630
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-06-03 10:10:22
    Image number: 4630
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-06-03 10:10:22

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  4631
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-06-05 17:17:46
    Image number: 4631
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-06-05 17:17:46

  • Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched  4632
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2011-06-06 06:43:06
    Image number: 4632
    freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2011-06-06 06:43:06

  • Chrysomela populi  5560
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2012-07-30 14:36:43
    Image number: 5560

    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2012-07-30 14:36:43

  • Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)  8037
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2017-08-28 11:34:16
    Image number: 8037
    larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2017-08-28 11:34:16

  • Chrysomela populi, pre-pupa  8038
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pre-pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2017-08-29 16:51:35
    Image number: 8038
    pre-pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2017-08-29 16:51:35

  • Chrysomela populi, pupation  8039
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupation
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2017-08-30 14:24:07
    Image number: 8039
    pupation
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2017-08-30 14:24:07

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  8040
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2017-08-30 00:00:00
    Image number: 8040
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2017-08-30 00:00:00

  • Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched  8041
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2017-09-04 10:09:39
    Image number: 8041
    freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2017-09-04 10:09:39

  • Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)  8261
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2018-05-21 16:43:37
    Image number: 8261
    larva (L3)
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2018-05-21 16:43:37

  • Chrysomela populi, pre-pupa  8262
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pre-pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2018-05-25 08:45:32
    Image number: 8262
    pre-pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2018-05-25 08:45:32

  • Chrysomela populi, pupa  8264
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2018-05-27 15:04:46
    Image number: 8264
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2018-05-27 15:04:46

  • Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched  8263
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2018-05-31 10:25:56
    Image number: 8263
    freshly hatched
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2018-05-31 10:25:56

  • Chrysomela populi, host plant  8972
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi, host plant
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2019-09-22 12:50:59
    Image number: 8972
    host plant
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2019-09-22 12:50:59

  • Chrysomela populi + Chrysomela tremula, feeding pattern  8973
    Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758  Großer Pappelblattkäfer  Poplar Leaf Beetle 
    Chrysomela populi + Chrysomela tremula, feeding pattern
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2019-09-22 13:17:35
    Image number: 8973
    feeding pattern
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2019-09-22 13:17:35


Further vernacular names:
Red Poplar Leaf Beetle
Classification:
Chrysomela populi belongs to the subfamily Chrysomelinae, tribe Chrysomelini.
Distribution:
Europe, Asia.
Habitat:
Forests and parks, everywhere where poplars and willows, the host plants of the beetle, can be found.
Description:
The 10 - 12 mm large Poplar Leaf Beetle has orange or red elytra with a small black spot at the tip. Its pronotum is black, sometimes bronze green. In the similar looking, somewhat smaller species Chrysomela saliceti and Chrysomela tremulae the black spot at the tip of elytra is missing.
The adult larvae, up to 15 mm long and yellowish white in colour, have dark spots arranged in rows. They are virtually indistinguishable from those of Chrysomela tremula and Chrysomela saliceti. At first sight the larvae of Chrysomela populi can easily be confused with the larvae of the smaller Spotted Willow Leaf Beetle (Chrysomela vigintipunctata) as well.
Biology:
The beetles form two complete generations a year in Central Europe. Under favourable conditions, a third incomplete generation develops. Chrysomela populi hibernates as imago. The wintered beetles can be found on the host plants from the end of April/beginning of May. The females lay eggs on the undersides of the leaves. After a few days the larvae hatch. The larvae go through 3 larval stages and feed on the leaves of different poplar and willow species. They have spherical glands through which they can secrete a defence secretion (2nd larva picture from 2019). The pupation takes place upside down (see pictures from 2011).
Note:
I found the larva of 2017 on an aspen (Populus tremula). It pupated 2 days later. The first three parts of the penultimate picture show the change of the pupa on August 30th, the day of the pupation. The second partial picture was taken half an hour and the third two and a half hours after the first. The last partial picture shows the pupa on 3 September, the day before the beetle hatched. The pupal stage lasted 5 days.
The last picture of the beetle hatched in 2017 shows the black spot at the tip of the elytra characteristic for Chrysomela populi.
The pictures from 2018 show a Chrysomela populi of the 1st generation as larva on willow, prepupa, after pupation and the adult beetle freshly hatched after a few days.
The larvae of 22 September 2019 both pupated on 29 September. On 5 October, two beetles with the black spot on the tip of the elytra characteristic of Chrysomela populi had left their pupal shells.
Natural enemies:
Cleonice callida Meigen, 1824 (Diptera, family Tachinidae)
Schizonotus sieboldi (Ratzeburg, 1848) (Hymenoptera, family Pteromalidae)

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
  2. Arved Lompe: Die Käfer Europas - Ein Bestimmungswerk im Internet
  3. J. Urban: Occurrence, bionomics and harmfulness of Chrysomela populi L. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), Journal of Forest Science, 52, 2006 (6): 255–284