# Heather Beetle (*Lochmaea suturalis*)

The Heather Beetle is a small bug that loves to munch on heather plants. They are bright green and can be found in gardens and moorlands, making them fun to spot!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Moorlands

![Heather Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/A_Chrysomelid_beetle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1285818.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Lairich Rig, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Chrysomelid_beetle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1285818.jpg)

## Appearance

The Heather Beetle is a small, oval-shaped beetle, typically 4-5mm long, sporting a reddish-brown or brownish-yellow body. Its wing cases often have a distinct darker seam, which helps differentiate it from other small brown beetles on heather plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Chrysomelidae
- **Genus:** Lochmaea

## Interesting facts

- Adult heather beetles can sometimes fly high above the moorlands to find new food.
- Even their babies, called larvae, eat only tough heather plants!
- They can accidentally spread tiny fungus spores from plant to plant.
- When many heather beetles appear, they can turn whole hillsides brown!

## Special abilities

- **Heather Feeder:** Heather Beetle can digest tough heather leaves because of specialized enzymes that help them break down plant material.
- **Playing Dead:** Heather Beetle has a defense mechanism that helps them avoid predators by dropping to the ground and pretending to be dead.
- **Rapid Reproduction:** Heather Beetle can multiply quickly because females lay many eggs, leading to large populations when conditions are right.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 8-10 mm
- **Size:** 4-5 mm
- **Lifespan:** 60-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

These small beetles munch only on heather plants, especially the leaves and flowers.

- **Age differences:** Larvae also feed on heather plants, mirroring the adult diet.
- **Primary Foods:** Calluna vulgaris (Heather), Erica cinerea (Bell Heather), Erica tetralix (Cross-leaved Heath)
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Heather](https://www.snappit.app/explore/heather) (*Calluna vulgaris*) — Primary food source for both larvae and adults.
- **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Robins and other small birds often forage for them.
- **Eaten by:** Wolf Spider (*Pardosa amentata*) — Spiders are common predators of heather beetles.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

It's best to look at beetles without touching them, as they can be delicate.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Heather Beetle?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Heather Beetle's wingspan?

8-10 mm

### How big is Heather Beetle?

4-5 mm

### How long does Heather Beetle live?

60-90 days

### What does Heather Beetle eat?

These small beetles munch only on heather plants, especially the leaves and flowers.

### Where is Heather Beetle usually found?

Moorlands

### How does Heather Beetle hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Heather Beetle have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Heather Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/heather-beetle)