Altica oleracea is a species of leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae.
| Altica oleracea | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus: | Altica |
| Species: | A. oleracea
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| Binomial name | |
| Altica oleracea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Etymology edit
Its specific name oleracea means "related to vegetables/herbs" in Latin and is a form of holeraceus (oleraceus).[2][3]
Subspecies edit
Subspecies include:[4][5]
- Altica oleracea subsp. breddini (Mohr, 1958)
- Altica oleracea subsp. oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution and habitat edit
This species is present in whole Palaearctic realm. except Northern Africa.[4][1] Bushes and shrubs form their typical habitat.
Description edit
Altica oleracea can reach a body length of about 3–42 mm (0.12–1.65 in). Their color varies between metallic green, blue-green, blue to golden green. Legs and antennae are dark. The posterior femora are thickened. The pronotum has a delicate transverse furrow on the basal half. The elytra are finely punctured. Altica oleracea is difficult to distinguish from related species. This is usually only possible by examining the male genitalia.[6][7][8]
Biology edit
These beetles are observed from March to autumn. In early summer they lay their eggs on their host plants, which are also their forage plants. In fact larvae and adults of Altica oleracea are phytophagous, feeding on various plants,[6] especially Onagraceae, Ericaceae and Rosaceae species.[7][9]
Bibliography edit
- Anderson, R., Nash, R. & O'Connor, J.P.. 1997, Irish Coleoptera: a revised and annotated list, Irish Naturalists' Journal Special Entomological Supplement, 1-81
- du Chatenet, G, 2000, Coléoptères Phytophages D’Europe, , NAP Editions,
- Joy, N.H., 1932, A practical handbook of British beetles, , H.F. & G. Witherby,
- This article has been expanded using, inter alia, material based on a translation of an article from the Deutsch Wikipedia, by the same name.
External links edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Altica oleracea".
- ^ Parker, Peter (2018). A Little Book of Latin for Gardeners. Little Brown Book Group. p. 328. ISBN 978-1-4087-0615-2.
oleraceus, holeraceus = relating to vegetables or kitchen garden
- ^ Whitney, William Dwight (1899). The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia. Century Co. p. 2856.
L. holeraceus, prop. oleraceus, herb-like, holus, prop. olus (oler-), herbs, vegetables
- ^ a b "Fauna Europaea".
- ^ "Altica oleracea | BioLib.cz".
- ^ a b "Altica oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758) | UK Beetle Recording". www.coleoptera.org.uk.
- ^ a b iři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al.: Käfer Mittel- und Nordwesteuropas. Parey Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1, Seiten 295, 296. (in German)
- ^ http://coleonet.de/coleo/texte/altica.htm Kafer Europas (in German)
- ^ "Altica oleracea (a flea beetle)". www.bioinfo.org.uk.
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