Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula)

Gastrophysa viridula

''Gastrophysa viridula'', known as the green dock beetle, green dock leaf beetle or green sorrel beetle, is a species of beetle native to Europe.
Gastrophysa (Gastrophysa) viridula (De Geer, 1775) Or Blue in green (M. Davis, 1959)
5.3 mm long Chrysomelidae France,Gastrophysa viridula,Geotagged,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula)

Appearance

The length of the green dock beetle varies between sexes, with the males being 4 mm and the females being 7 mm. During the mating season, females have enlarged abdomens. Both sexes are green with a metallic shimmer, which, depending on the light, can be gold green, blue, purple, violet, or red. The legs of this species also shimmer a metallic green, and are strongly built. The antennae are serrated and are medium in length.
Gastrophysa viridula Fondry des Chiens BelgiumGastrophysa viridula,Geotagged,Spring

Naming

*''Gastrophysa viridula pennina''
⤷ ''Gastrophysa viridula viridula''
Green Dock Beetles  Gastrophysa viridula,Geotagged,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula),Spring,United Kingdom

Distribution

The green dock beetle is commonly found in central Europe. Its range extends eastward into western Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains. They are found in heathlands, forests, meadows, and gardens with the presence of plant dock , the beetles' food plant.
Green Dock Beetles mating, Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands  Europe,Gastrophysa viridula,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula),Heeswijk-Dinther,Netherlands,World

Behavior

The green dock beetle's breeding season is from March to October. There are 2 to 4 broods per year, with the last brood hibernating as an adult. The female lays over 1,000 eggs, laying them in clusters of 20 to 45 on the underside of the food plant's leaves. The eggs are oval in shape, and are cream to yellow, turning orange prior to hatching. After about 3 to 6 days, the larva hatches from the egg. It varies in color from greenish gray to dark brown. Its body is segmented, and will reach a length of 8 mm. Young larvae will drop to the ground if disturbed while feeding, while older larvae secrete a substance which repels competitors from eating the food plant leaves. After three instars, the larva pupates in a burrow about 2 cm underground. The adult emerges 6 to 9 days later.
Green Dock Beetle on large leaf - closeup, Heeswijk, Netherlands https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62882/green_dock_beetle_on_large_leaf_heeswijk_netherlands.html Europe,Gastrophysa viridula,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula),Heeswijk-Dinther,Netherlands,World

Habitat

The green dock beetle is commonly found in central Europe. Its range extends eastward into western Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains. They are found in heathlands, forests, meadows, and gardens with the presence of plant dock , the beetles' food plant.
Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) I have posted another photograph of this Beetle but wanted to show it at a different angle, I am almost convinced it is a Tansy Beetle even though reading around the subject it would appear they are peculiar to Yorkshire, UK. I would like to stretch my neck out a little further and say may be they are not as specific to one area in the UK as reports have suggested. 
-- See comments below: It's Gastrophysa viridula -- Gastrophysa viridula,Geotagged,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula),United Kingdom

Food

The green dock beetle feeds mainly on dock and green sorrel, rarely feeding on other plants in the families Polygonaceae, Brassicaceae, Violaceae, and Boraginaceae. The larvae can only completely develop on ''Rumex'' species.

References:

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Status: Unknown
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilyChrysomelidae
GenusGastrophysa
Species