Lilioceris merdigera
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L. merdigera
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| Lilioceris merdigera (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Lilioceris merdigera is a species of shining leaf beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Criocerinae.
It is found in the whole Palearctic ecozone.
These beetles are 6–8 mm long. Head, pronotum, elytra, femora and tibiae are bright red and elytra bear several rows of dots. It can be easily distinguished by the similar Lilioceris lilii which has black instead of red legs and head.
The larvae are typically covered by blackish mucilaginous substances mixed with their own faeces, that seem to have a protective function. The adult beetles can produce chirping sounds.
Both the adults and the larvae feed on the leaves of several plants, mainly Liliaceae, Alliaceae and Asparagaceae species, for instance Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon), onion (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), Asparagus, Polygonum and Convallaria species.
References
- Georg Möller, Reiner Grube, Ekkehard Wachmann: Der Fauna Käferführer I - Käfer im und am Wald Fauna-Verlag, Nottuln 2006
- Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al.: Käfer Mittel- und Nordwesteuropas. Parey, Berlin 1985,
