Photo © M.Hoskovec
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Opsilia coerulescens is a very common and broadly distributed species (Europe, North Africa, Near East,
Asia Minor, etc.). It develops in herbaceous plants (Figure 1) such as
Echium, Cerinthe, Cynoglossum, Anchusa, Symphytum, Lithospermum,
Lappula, Lycopsis, etc. The larva of Opsilia coerulescens feeds in the roots of the host.
Later the larva girdles the plant stalk above ground level and secures this part with a wad of fibrous frass
(Figure 2). In the autumn the attacked stalks are regularly broken at the
girdle by wind. Surprisingly, the adults do not leave the substrate via the already created opening (by
simply removing the wad) but create a new one in the side of the stalk.
| Body length: | 6 - 13 mm |
| Life cycle: | 1 year |
| Adults in: | April - July |
| Host plant: | polyphagous in in herbaceous plants |
| Distribution: | Europe, North Africa, Near East,
Asia Minor |
The depicted beetles were collected on their host plant (Echium italicum) in Areopoli in Areopolis
(Lakoonia nomos, SW of Peloponnese peninsula, Greece) and in Sussargues (Hérault, France).
Collected by M.Hoskovec and Jean-Yves Rasplus.
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