Our 600th species recorded in the Garden. In truth, it is likely one of either two species, Oulema melanopus or O. duftschmidi. A popular species identification App we use suggests O. melanopus, but it seems unlikely the App is sophisticated enough to distinguish between these two closely related species.
It’s a beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, and is native to Europe and Asia. It is notorious as a pest in parts of its native range as well as North America and its common name is the Cereal Leaf Beetle due to the damage it causes to oats, barley, wheat and other cereal crops.
As with many species considered ‘pests’ there is a wealth of information available online regarding its life cycle. It overwinters as an adult and this is likely why we are seeing one so early in the calendar year. We certainly don’t recall seeing this species before, so expect it has arrived from wherever it spent the winter.
DC: 14.04.2024
Wildlife Garden 