Dead-nettle leaf beetle Chrysolina fastuosa

Features

Chrysolina fastuosa, also known as the dead-nettle leaf beetle, is a species of beetle from a family of Chrysomelidae found in Europe, Caucasus and northern Turkey.

Species	Insect
Living space	River edge, Rivers, Treeline, Wet site
Size	5,1-6,9 mm

Description

The species has a length ranging from 5.1–6.9 millimetres. C. fastuosa has a gold shine that transitions to a green or violet-blue longitudinal stripe near the shoulder band of the elytra as well as near the suture. Occasionally, specimen of C. fastuosa may be completely green or black in colour. It occurs along river banks, in ditches, on forest clearings and edges, and elsewhere. It feeds on species of the genera Lamium, Galeopsis, Prunella, Stachys, Leonunus and on species of the genus Uricus. They are most common from June to September. After just over a week, larvae develop from the laid eggs, which hatch four times by September. They overwinter in the ground.