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Post by nomad on Jun 12, 2016 7:05:24 GMT
Coleoptera : The Leaf Beetle, Cryptocephalus bipunctatus.
I recently found this small colourful Leaf beetle Cryptocephalus bipunctatus (Linnaeus, 1758) in oak scrub in Limestone grassland of the Cotswolds Hills. This little jewel is a scarce and local species in the UK. In the area where I found it there is only three previous records by collectors, the last being in 1994. Cryptocephalus bipunctatus is about the size of a Ladybird and both belong to the same family Chrysomelidae.
Cryptocephalus bipunctatus. Cotswolds June 2016.
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Post by isidro on Jun 12, 2016 14:20:03 GMT
What is "the size of a ladybird"? Anatis ocellata is as long as seven or eight Scymnus! Very nice and curious form of bipunctatus. Here I'm used to see only the "normal" form with points instead bands in the elytra, that give it's name. Cryptos are one of my favourites genus as I managed to get a small handful of species in images - but there are many more that I lack...
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Post by nomad on Jun 12, 2016 17:57:01 GMT
A very variable species, about 1 cm long.
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Post by isidro on Jun 12, 2016 19:15:01 GMT
That's a BIG crypto! Here in Spain they tend to be smaller.
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Post by nomad on Jun 12, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
Well perhaps smaller, I did not have time to measure the beetle as it quickly disappeared from view. Do you have any specimens?
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Post by isidro on Jun 13, 2016 11:26:34 GMT
No, I only have photos. My collection is in the home of a friend since many years, and he made disappear all the beetle drawers misteriously There are some big Cryptocephalus such as the sericeus-group, or C. loreyi... also very tiny ones such as rufipes, pygmaeus, pusillus... the C. bipunctatus is intermediate.
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Post by nomad on Jun 13, 2016 12:07:34 GMT
That's a shame you do not have your beetle collection. It is good to be able to discuss these smaller insects with a member here. . I look forward to more comments on my posts. Feel free if you wish to add your images of Cryptocephalus bipunctatus, it would nice to see some examples from Spain.
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phalaecus
New Aurelian
Posts: 28
Country: Italy
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Post by phalaecus on Jun 14, 2016 5:06:50 GMT
Coleoptera : The Leaf Beetle, Cryptocephalus bipunctatus.
I recently found this small colourful Leaf beetle Cryptocephalus bipunctatus (Linnaeus, 1758) in oak scrub in Limestone grassland of the Cotswolds Hills. This little jewel is a scarce and local species in the UK. In the area where I found it there is only three previous records by collectors, the last being in 1994. Cryptocephalus bipunctatus is about the size of a Ladybird and both belong to the same family Chrysomelidae.
Cryptocephalus bipunctatus. Cotswolds June 2016. Ladybirds belong to genus Coccinella (Coccinellidae), while Cryptocephalus bipunctatus is a Chrysomelidae, thus two different families. The depicted specimen belongs to aberration sanguinolentus.
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Post by nomad on Jun 14, 2016 18:21:27 GMT
phalaecus. Thank for for the correction and naming this form of Cryptocephalus bipunctatus.
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Post by isidro on Jun 15, 2016 11:43:36 GMT
Here the "normal" form, red with two black dots in elytra
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Post by nomad on Jun 15, 2016 12:47:13 GMT
Nice to see the normal form of bipunctatus but I prefer the Cotswold's aberration/ form sanguinolentus.
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leon
Junior Aurelian
Birthday : Feb 5
Posts: 95
Country: United States
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Post by leon on Jun 22, 2016 14:53:26 GMT
Nice to see the normal form of bipunctatus but I prefer the Cotswold's aberration/ form sanguinolentus. I like them both.
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