Rosemary leaf-beetle- Chrysolina americana

[Chocky]

Found this unusual little beetle on a railing along side the park on the way to the estuary

[rolf]

Here's a description from the Natural History Museum site.

Chrysolina americana - This species is native to the Mediterranean region, and was first recorded in Britain in June 1994 on Rosemary at the RHS garden, Wisley, Surrey. Since its discovery it is known to have become established at several localities in the London area and has now been recorded from Kent, Essex, Cambridgeshire, the Norwich area and Leicestershire, either from plants in garden centres or as established populations in domestic gardens or parks.

14 years to reach Exmouth, not bad for a tiny beetle.

[Chocky]

Thanks for that Rolf.

[Merlin]

Excellent little pic, excellent little beetle, and an excellent search by Rolf to discover the ID. And it doesn't look like I'm going to see one up here in the frozen north. I was intrigued.

I already said all this on another thread - same subject - but it appears to have been 'dumped'......pooooh!


Pete.

[rolf]

Still there Pete http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/i...html#post24461, but we leave the id thread there, to indicate to visitors that the section is active, then if it's a good enough capture, we copy the first post to the relevant section.

[Chocky]

Thank you for your comment

No Not dumped Pete once some thing is ID'd then if it's a good photo it goes into the galley.
That is why we had a separate ID section.


I'm really pleased to have found it. I saw it as I was passing and did a double take thinking at first it was a harlequin

[Merlin]

Yes a delightful little creature and an excellent pic Beryl.

Sorry I thought the 'other' had been removed......I must be taking the wrong tablets I think.


Pete.