Weevil-shaped leaf beetles?

Treehawk · #1 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 07:10 PM

I have searched the internet trying to find the identity of this beetle. Until June this year I had never seen this species before, and now I'm seeing it around my garden and in the parks here. I even saw them when I went on holiday to Normandy, so what is this curious looking beetle?

I thought they were Blister beetles when I first saw one, but I am confident that they are Leaf beetles now.

charlieb · #2 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 07:17 PM

Lagria hirta, a darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae)

Treehawk · #3 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 07:26 PM

Thanks for the I.D. I have never seen a Darkling beetle here before, it doesn't look like the ones i'm familiar with either. I notice Gardensafari.net mentions it has its own family (Lagriidae). I always see this beetle on plants, I presume it is not causing any harm (if it takes one nibble out of a leaf then it will get sprayed to death by my grandmother just like those Vine weevils did...)

charlieb · #4 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treehawk

I notice Gardensafari.net mentions it has its own family (Lagriidae).

According to Duff, 2008 it's in the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae. I used to see a lot of them in the shade below middle age sycamores amongst the nettles