Alder Flea Beetle

Altica ambiens

The Alder Flea Beetle is a tiny, jumping insect that loves to munch on plants. It has shiny, greenish-blue wings and can hop like a little grasshopper when it feels scared.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Alder Flea Beetle is a small, oval-shaped insect with a striking metallic blue, purple, or blue-green sheen. It has noticeably thickened hind legs, which make it visually distinct and ready for powerful jumps.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyChrysomelidaeGenusAltica

Alder Flea Beetle

Interesting facts

If disturbed, they often drop from plants and play dead to avoid being eaten.

Like butterflies, they go through a full metamorphosis from egg to larva to adult.

Sometimes, their tiny larvae live underground, munching on plant roots!

Their name "flea beetle" comes from their amazing jumping ability!

Special abilities

Alder Flea Beetle can jump far using its powerful hind legs, helping them escape predators quickly.

Alder Flea Beetle has a tough, hard exoskeleton that protects its soft body from being easily squashed.

Alder Flea Beetle has strong mouthparts to chew through tough alder leaves, its main food source.

Measurements & details

Size: 2.8-4.5 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These tiny beetles munch on leaves, especially from alder trees, to get all their energy!

Age differences: Larvae also feed on leaves, sometimes plant roots.

Primary Foods

Alder leaves
Willow leaves
Poplar leaves

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Red Alder

Alnus rubra

Feeds on leaves as both larvae and adults.

eaten by

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

A common bird that preys on insects.

eaten by

Common Damsel Bug

Nabis americoferus

A predatory insect that ambushes small beetles.

eaten by

Flower Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Ambush predator that waits on flowers for prey.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.