And now - a beetle for ID

Geoff F · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2008, 07:05 PM

Small beetle, on the edge of woodland, S. Devon.

I'm thinking Chrysomelidae family, possibly one of the Neocrepidodera species. But I can only find one image, N. ferruginea, which looks a bit uncertain.

And I am well out of my depth now. Any help appreciated.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2008, 07:18 PM

The more rounded body makes me think Sphaeroderma testaceum , Neocrepidodera sp are more elongate. Its likely you would need to check the genitalia under a microscope for a 100% ID. As a matter of interest what plant was it on?

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

As a matter of interest what plant was it on?

Bit of a stupid question really since its clearly a thistle, I wasnt thinking

.

It could be Sphaeroderma testaceum as its main food plant is thistles.

But Neocrepidodera ferruginea and Neocrepidodera transversa are also found on thistles.

JonSadler · #4 (**permalink**) 17-10-2008, 09:07 PM

I'd go with the Dogg's ID here. Rounder and finely punctured - looks like S. testaceum (usual caveats apply for leaf beetles).

Regards
Jon

naturegirl · #5 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 01:36 AM

Sorry to be thick here guys............

But is it not the Lily beetle?

The colour is identical?

Naturegirl

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Sorry to be thick here guys............

But is it not the Lily beetle?

The colour is identical?

Naturegirl

Sorry it doesn't look like a Lily Beetle to me + the colour is quite different + a totally different shape. Lily Beetles are bright red, not orange as this beastie is!

derelict · #7 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Small beetle, on the edge of woodland, S. Devon.

How small is small?

a flea beetle? Sphaeroderma ?testaceum?

JonSadler · #8 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 09:07 AM

Hi

As Aeshna states the Lily Beetle is bright red (very red) and has a black had, black legs, underside etc etc and it is much more elongate in shape.

I think it is S. testaceum but Dogghound is right it is hard to differentiate this one from Neocrepidodera, especially with a side profile.

Regards
Jon

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Sorry to be thick here guys............

But is it not the Lily beetle?

The colour is identical?

Naturegirl

Geoff F · #9 (**permalink**) 18-10-2008, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the information, everyone. Sphaeroderma testaceum overcomes all the reservations I had about Neocrepidodera ferruginea so I think it is probably the correct ID.

My first thought on seeing it was Orange Ladybird (they are at this location) but due to the lack of spots I then considered Lily Beetle, like Naturegirl. But the black bits ruled out this simple ID.

I suppose the size was around 5 or 6 mm. The problem with taking this photo, is that I was trying to photograph a nearby spider (which turned out to be a Pardosa) but everytime I attempted to get closer and at the best angle it ran under the leaf.

While waiting for it to become more cooperative I saw this beetle, in a different direction, but I couldn't move so I just turned the camera slightly on the tripod. There were several beetles there but I couldn't get a better angle.

Hope that just 'thistle' is going to be OK for Dogghound. I suspect a Creeping Thistle but it wasn't in flower and being more interested in the spider I didn't take that much notice.