Gonioctena fornicata

Gonioctena fornicata
Gonioctena fornicata. Upperside
Side view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Chrysomelinae
Genus: Gonioctena
Species: G. fornicata
Binomial name
Gonioctena fornicata
(Brüggemann, 1873)
Synonyms
  • Spartoxena fornicata

Gonioctena fornicata is a species of broad-shouldered leaf beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae.[1]

Subspecies

  • Spartoxena fornicata fornicata (Bruggemann, 1873)

Distribution

This species is mainly found in Poland, Italy, South Russia, Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Jugoslavia, Southern Poland, Ukraine, Southern Russia, Turkey and Caucasus.[2][3]

Description

These beetles are 6–7 mm long, the head is black, elytra and pronotum are red, with two black dots on the pronotum and five black dots on the elytra. The larvae are yellow-gray, with black spots on the back and sides and three pairs of thoracic legs.[4]

Biology

It is an univoltine species. It overwinters as an adult in the ground. After mating, the females lay their eggs on the leaves. The larvae develop in about 3–4 weeks. The new generation of adult beetles appear at the beginning of spring. Both beetles and larvae mainly feed on the tender leaves and stems of alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa), Trifolium and other Fabaceae species.[4]

Damages control

Generally chemical control using insecticides is not suggested but trials were done anyway. Unfortunately the field application of Bacillus thuringiensis subs. tenebrionis (Btt) is not possible due to lack of registration (e.g. in Italy). The good efficacy of the Btt preparation on adults and larvae was tested in lab. The microbial control with Btt could be very useful in alfalfa open fields on the contrary the chemical insecticides (e.g. neonicotinoids, etc.) due to the negative side effects on beneficial insects (very numerous in alfalfa) must be avoided. [5] [6]

References

  1. ↑ Biolib
  2. ↑ Fauna europaea
  3. ↑ Borowiec L.: Chrysomelidae of Europe
  4. 1 2 Atlante di Entomologia Agraria - Insetti utili e dannosi (in Italian)
  5. ↑ BURGIO G., FERRARI R., MAINI S. (1992). "Prove di laboratorio con un formulato a base di Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner ssp.tenebrionis nei confronti di Gonioctena fornicata (Brügg.)". Informatore Fitopatologico. 42 (11): 45–47.
  6. ↑ A. GUARNONE, A. PACINI, G. FRESCHI, F. MAZZI, A. CAPELLA (2008). "Experimental results with EPIK (Acetamiprid 5% PS) to control Gonioctena fornicata (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)on alfalfa". ATTI Giornate Fitopatologiche. 2008, 1: 247–250.
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