Bladderwort flea beetle

Bladderwort flea beetle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Longitarsus
Species: L. nigerrimus
Binomial name
Longitarsus nigerrimus
(Gyllenhal, 1827)

Longitarsus nigerrimus (also known as bladderwort flea-beetle)[1] is a greenish-black coloured species of beetle in the subfamily Alticinae that can be found in European countries such Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Benelux, Yugoslavian states (except for Macedonia), Baltic states, Scandinavia, and in Eastern Europe (Belarus and Ukraine).[2] It can also be found in North Russia, specifically in Siberia and east to Amur.[3]

Ecology

The species emerge in midsummer to mate and lay eggs. After they lay their eggs they die, living their young to feed on such plants as Utricularia minor and other Utricularia species. They feed on them till adulthood, and then go to overwinter. They grow up to 1.5–2 millimetres (0.059–0.079 in) long, with females being the largest.[1]

Habitat

They overwinter in Sphagnum moss, which can be found wet boggy areas.[1]

Behavior

This type of species can swim, which is rarity for its kind. When the moss goes underwater they use their front legs for breaststroke like movements to stay afloat. Unfortunately, they can't do it when they are underwater.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Longitarsus nigerrimus (bladderwort flea-beetle)". Natural History Museum. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Longitarsus nigerrimus (Gyllenhal, 1827)". Fauna Europaea. 2.6.2. August 29, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Russian distribution
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