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Hawthorn Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea crataegi)
These small Leaf beetles (Size:3.7-5.5mm) emerges fairly early in the year a week or two before Hawthorn blossom start to open, having overwintered as adults. This is usually from April, but can be earlier as seen with this individual. They then feed on the pollen as soon as the flowers open, and later on the leaves.
They may also feed on other blossom before Hawthorn is ready.
Mating occurs in the spring, after which the overwintered adults die leading to a lull in numbers in the early summer. The next generation then emerges in August and September before overwintering in the soil and commencing the cycle once again.
Reddish brown throughout with longitudinal black marks varying in size and intensity on the elytra. The head, thorax and elytra are all significantly punctured, the latter two more densely than the head.
In the UK Lochmaea crataegi is reasonably common in southern and central England (but mostly coastal in the west) appearing on a more localised basis further north.
"Lochmaea crataegi " is a species of leaf beetle native to Europe. Locally distributed throughout England and Wales, less extensively so in southern Scotland. Adults are found on hawthorn blossom, around Watford it seems exclusively so as beating the earlier flowering blackthorn, among many other types of blossom, over the years has failed to produce the species.
