2 beetles, caterpillar and something else for ID

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

There is only one British Lagria species - which makes life a lot easier!

Hmmmm ... in my defense ... I did check with FE, but obviously they're not the most reliable source (yet?).

What would be a good public access place for checklists of British beetles instead Paul?

Arp

P.S. Any thoughts on the Leaf Beetle?

[oxycera]

I'm not first and foremost a coleopterist so I'll just let this one lie.
No idea how I managed the trick with the Capitals

[Paul mabbott]

http://www.coleopterist.org.uk/checklist2008%20A5.pdf

The other beetle is a flea-beetle but I wouldn't like to say which.

However I've been looking further into the Lagria spp and find that Hodge & Jones note: "Lagria atripes 10-12 mm, resembling a large L. hirta. East Kent and Hampshire, rare."
So, as I may have mentioned before, we really do need to know the lengths of these insects!

Originally Posted by Pudding4brains

Hmmmm ... in my defense ... I did check with FE, but obviously they're not the most reliable source (yet?).

What would be a good public access place for checklists of British beetles instead Paul?

Arp

P.S. Any thoughts on the Leaf Beetle?

[djeyewater]

#1 Thanks for the ID. I just checked what plant it was on (its actually still on the same plant now) and I'm pretty sure its a ragwort, so I think it must be Longitarsus jacobaeae.

#2 It was on some grass, here's a pic of the grass it was on (actually I think its still there about ⅓ into the image from the left).

Sorry I don't know what type of grass it is - do you need this to help ID? I could probably get the grass ID'd in the plants forum here if it would help.

#3 Thanks for the confirmation. I'm in East Midlands and there were 2 of these on the same area of plants so I'm pretty sure it must be Lagria hirta. I think it was about 1cm long.

#4 Thanks for the ID and the info as well.

Dave

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

http://www.coleopterist.org.uk/checklist2008%20A5.pdf ...
However I've been looking further into the Lagria spp and find that Hodge & Jones note: "Lagria atripes 10-12 mm, resembling a large L. hirta. East Kent and Hampshire, rare."
So, as I may have mentioned before, we really do need to know the lengths of these insects!

Cheers for that Paul - fine checklist that

Based on your additional Lagria info I would suspect mine to be L. atripes then, but I'll make sure to measure a few of these more exactly next time - any idea on the listed size for L. hirta? Much overlap?

Originally Posted by djeyewater

#1 Thanks for the ID. I just checked what plant it was on (its actually still on the same plant now) and I'm pretty sure its a ragwort, so I think it must be Longitarsus jacobaeae.

Well, there seems to be a close relative (also Longitarsus) that is more of an universalist food wise and is also known to feed on ragwort (but other plants as well) - will have to try and find that info again though - not even sure if it's a look-alike.

#2 It was on some grass, here's a pic of the grass it was on (actually I think its still there about ⅓ into the image from the left).

Sorry I don't know what type of grass it is - do you need this to help ID? I could probably get the grass ID'd in the plants forum here if it would help.

The type of grass won't help me any further in providing an "ID" - I totally do not know hoppers, I just do know that specialists are very reluctant with photo-IDs on most of the tiny ones and if they'll hazard one they usually want to know the plant it was on (or in the area). Sorry

Cheers! Arp

[Paul mabbott]

My copy of Joy gives L. hirta as 7-9 mms. It being the nature of the world, there is sure to be occasional overlap but for the majority of individuals the length seems definitive.

Originally Posted by Pudding4brains

Based on your additional Lagria info I would suspect mine to be L. atripes then, but I'll make sure to measure a few of these more exactly next time - any idea on the listed size for L. hirta? Much overlap?
Arp

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

there is sure to be occasional overlap but for the majority of individuals the length seems definitive.

Cool!

Thanks for looking that up Paul!
Cheers, Arp