Willow Leaf Beetle

Plagiodera versicolora

The Willow Leaf Beetle is a small, shiny beetle that loves to munch on willow leaves. They are bright green and can often be found in gardens and parks where willows grow.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Willow Leaf Beetle is a small, oval-shaped insect, typically 4-6mm long, with a striking iridescent metallic blue-green or bronze sheen. Its glossy, dome-shaped wing covers truly make it sparkle among the green leaves, differentiating it from duller leaf beetles.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyChrysomelidaeGenusPlagiodera

Willow Leaf Beetle

Interesting facts

Adult beetles hibernate in winter, hiding in soil or under leaf litter to stay safe!

Female beetles lay hundreds of tiny yellow eggs on the underside of willow leaves!

These beetles can skeletonize leaves, leaving only veins behind like delicate lace patterns!

Young willow leaf beetles are called larvae, and they look completely different from the adults!

Special abilities

Willow Leaf Beetle can release a stinky chemical because of special glands, which helps them warn off predators.

Willow Leaf Beetle has strong mandibles that help them chew through tough willow leaves as both larvae and adults.

Willow Leaf Beetle can fly quickly away from danger because of its functional wings, helping it escape predators fast.

Willow Leaf Beetle has a speedy life cycle that helps them lay many eggs quickly, ensuring more beetles hatch.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 8-12 mm
Size: 4-6 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 5 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These hungry beetles munch exclusively on willow leaves, both as larvae and adults.

Primary Foods

Willow leaves
White Willow (Salix alba) leaves
Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) leaves

Foraging Method

Grazing

Ecological connections

eats

White Willow

Salix alba

Feeds on the leaves of this common willow tree.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

A tasty snack for this common European bird.

eaten by

European Garden Spider

Araneus diadematus

Often caught in the webs of these orb-weaving spiders.

parasitizes

Willow Leaf Beetle Parasitic Wasp

Tetrastichus julis

Wasp larvae develop inside willow leaf beetle larvae.

Traits

Solitary

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

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

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.