OAK LEAF ROLLER BEETLE |
ATTELABUS NITENS |
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| Fig 1 |
DESCRIPTION: Length 4 - 6mm. A small smartly coloured beetle that has reddish-brown elytra and pronotum, black, legs and scutellum and short rostrum. The head is rectangular and also black. BEHAVIOUR: Seen in small colonies in and around young Oak trees where the females lay their eggs on the edge of leaves and cut and roll them up to create a case that protects the egg. The larva feed in the curled up leaf and after it has fallen the larva pupate underground. DISTRIBUTION: Local throughout. HABITAT: Seen in gardens, parks, woodland hedges and hedgerows. PERIOD: May to July. |