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

Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)

Blaues Getreidehähnchen

Synonyms and other combinations:

Crioceris obscura Stephens, 1831 | Lema gallaeciana Heyden, 1879 | Lema lichenis Voet, 1806 | Oulema gallaeciana (Heyden, 1870) |

  • Oulema obscura  8567
    Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)  Blaues Getreidehähnchen   
    Oulema obscura, conf. Christoph Benisch
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2018-07-13 12:46:27
    Image number: 8567

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2018-07-13 12:46:27
    conf. Christoph Benisch
  • Oulema obscura  8568
    Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)  Blaues Getreidehähnchen   
    Oulema obscura, conf. Christoph Benisch
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2018-07-13 12:46:22
    Image number: 8568

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2018-07-13 12:46:22
    conf. Christoph Benisch
  • Oulema obscura  8569
    Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)  Blaues Getreidehähnchen   
    Oulema obscura, conf. Christoph Benisch
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2018-07-13 12:46:00
    Image number: 8569

    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2018-07-13 12:46:00
    conf. Christoph Benisch
  • Oulema obscura  3113
    Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)  Blaues Getreidehähnchen   
    Oulema obscura, conf. Christoph Benisch
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2005-04-30 16:41:44
    Image number: 3113

    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2005-04-30 16:41:44
    conf. Christoph Benisch
  • Oulema obscura, larva + cocoon  10987
    Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831)  Blaues Getreidehähnchen   
    Oulema obscura, larva + cocoon, conf. Christoph Benisch
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark; 2023-06-26 00:00:00
    Image number: 10987
    larva + cocoon
    DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
    2023-06-26 00:00:00
    conf. Christoph Benisch

Classification:
Oulema obscura belongs to the subfamily Criocerinae, tribe Lemiini.
Distribution:
Western Palearctic, from Western Europe via Russia to Mongolia.
Habitat:
Grassland, fields.
Description:
Length 3 - 4 mm; blue, green or black coloured; elytra shiny metallic, dotted; pronotum in the laced furrow in front of the base smooth or with only a few larger dotted lines and depressions in the middle; forehead evenly arched, with a distinct, elongated pit in the middle.
Similar species occurring in Germany are Oulema erichsonii and Oulema septentrionis.
Biology:
Oulema obscura is an univoltine species living oligophagous on grasses (Poaceae).
The adults, which are well able to fly, appear from April. They can usually be found in the herb layer. After a maturation feeding period, the females start to lay their eggs in May. The eggs are laid in rows near the midrib on the upper leaf surface of the food plant. After hatching, the larvae begin to feed on the tops of the leaves and create a stripy feeding pattern. The yellowish larvae with a black head protect themselves with a thick layer of mucus and excrements on the upper side of the body and are easily confused with small slugs. The pupation takes place in a hard foam cocoon on the leaf surface, sometimes also in the ears. Oulema obscura hibernates as an adult in protected places in the herb and foliage layer or under bark.
Note:
Oulema obscura (Stephens, 1831) = Oulema gallaeciana (Heyden, 1870)

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