Macroplea mutica

Macroplea mutica is a species of leaf beetles of the subfamily Donaciinae. It considered to be a Palearctic species, but can be found in Central Europe and Turkey.[1]

Macroplea mutica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Chrysomelidae
Subfamily:
Donaciinae
Genus:
Macroplea
Species:
M. mutica
Binomial name
Macroplea mutica
Fabricius, 1792

Discovery

The species were first discovered by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1792, in Eastern Anatolia.[2] Throughout time, the species have been discovered in South England and Ireland, and also, in countries of Central Europe, such as: North Germany, and Hungary. The species were also found in Scandinavia, especially in countries like Sweden, and Finland.

Description

Adults size is 4.5–6 mm, but could extend up to 7 mm.[3] Prothorax much narrowed to the base, mostly with two or three longitudinal black spots. The vertex angle of elytron is extended in a triangular spine.

Distribution

The beetle lives in Baltic, Mediterranean, and Caspian Seas. Some of the species were discovered on Lake Balaton, in Hungary, which were apparently relatives of the Baltic Sea species.[4]

Threat level

The species is on mixed level of danger. In Poland it considered to be critically endangered, while at the same time, in Germany, is considered to be on an Endangered species list. In Sweden and Finland, though, no decline have been recorded, so the species are not in any danger there at all.[5]

Ecology

Adult beetles are grazing on the leaves of pondweed (Potamogeton) and Ruppia (Ruppiaceae).

References
  1. Türkgülü, İbrahim (2011). "The first representative of the fully aquatic leaf beetle genus Macroplea Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Turkey: Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792), with notes on its biology, habitat, host plant and distribution". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 87: 291–295. doi:10.1002/zoos.201100007.
  2. Türkgülü, İbrahim (2011). "The first representative of the fully aquatic leaf beetle genus Macroplea Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Turkey: Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792), with notes on its biology, habitat, host plant and distribution". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 87: 291–295. doi:10.1002/zoos.201100007.
  3. Length of a beetle Archived 2013-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Species distribution
  5. Helcom Archived 2013-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
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