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Altica quercetorum

Oak flea beetle

Description

The adult is metallic shiny, dark blue to bluish-green beetle. It is 4.0–5.0 mm in size, with distinctly thickened thighs of back legs, which enables it to jump. It usually moves by crawling, jumping only when disturbed. The female lays eggs on the lower side of leaves. Shiny black larvae feed in groups. They skeletonize the leaves, only venation remains intact. Maturation feeding performed by adults on leaves also causes damage. It is more common in stands older than 50 years. Plenty of other leaf beetles live in Europe and especially in the Mediterranean subregion. In the western Mediterranean some from them cause sporadically defoliation in cork oak stands (Pachybrachis regius, Lachnaia sexpunctata, L. tristigma).

Symptom

Larvae damage leaves, only netting remains undamaged.

Tree Species: Oak

Part of a plant- attacked: Leaf / Needle

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes