Small green beetle found in Dorset,for id please?

[Craftybird]

Found this small, metallic looking beetle in a meadow near the cliffs in Durlston, Dorset this weekend. You get a good idea of the scale from the buttercup it's sitting on. Anyone know what it is?

[diggleken]

Hi,
I dont do beetles much - but possibly chrysolina menthastri?
Cheers
Ken

[Craftybird]

Wow, I never cease to be amazed at how quick off the mark you lot are on this forum! I think you're right diggleken, did a quick google for chrysolina menthastri and that's what it looked like. Ta!

[schlocky]

I think it's more likely to be Cryptocephalus, which is more rectangular than chrysolina. Did you get any shots of the head area as Chrysolina's head is held horizontally wheras Cryptocephalus's head is angled downwards. (Used Chinery's insects of Britain & W. Europe)

[Craftybird]

I'm afraid this was the only shot I got of it, but I see what you mean about it being rectangular. I can't recall the angle of it's head or show you a picture of it sadly, I was on a family walk and didn't get the chance to take more than one photo. Might be worth mentioning that it didn't have any bronzy sheen which I've seen pictured and referred to online as indicative of chrysolina menthastri, it was just a pure brilliant green.

*EDIT* In fact, the more I look the more I sway towards it possibly being a Cryptocephalus aureolus, especially as I found a reference online to them eating buttercup pollen, and I got the impression at the time that this beetle was doing just that.

[diggleken]

Told you I didnt do beetles!
I'd go with that too - cant see a head, and on buttercup so . . . . .
What a lovely colour though!
Cheers
Ken

[poschiavanus]

I think all the Chrysolina spp. have more or less regular rows of puncturation, whereas photo shows a pretty random pattern. By the way, C. menthastri is now C. herbacea.

[Craftybird]

Thanks though diggleken, you got the ball rolling for me! I don't have any field guides for insects so I never know quite where to start, but now I've learned a bit about c. menthastri/herbacea even if it wasn't what I was looking for.

And thanks poschiavanus for the extra information, this is such a great forum for learning on!

[Dogghound]

This is definately a Cryptocephalus species. Possibly C. hypochaeridis hard to say for sure from the photo.