Imported Willow Leaf Beetle Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting, 1781)Non-native    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Coleoptera   >   Family Chrysomelidae   >   Genus Plagiodera   

Status:

Probably more common than what our paucity of records indicate. Has the potential to be found wherever there are willows or poplars.

Description:

Small (3mm) greenish-black beetle with punctures across the elytra. Larva are small (5-8mm), shiny, and grub-like with a tapering abdomen, often feeding in groups on willow leaves.

Where to find:

Generally found in wet environments where willows are found.

Relationships:

Feeds almost exclusively on the foliage of willows. Has also been found on poplars.

There are 7 records in the project database.

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An Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/16/2019). Verified by Blaine Mathison/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

An Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Harford Co., Maryland (4/26/2020). Determined by Blaine Mathison/BugGuide. Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/30/2019). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2012). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Washington Co., Maryland (6/22/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

An Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Baltimore City, Maryland (5/26/2007). Determined by Rob Westerduijn/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Imported Willow Leaf Beetle in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/10/2023). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)


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