Box Sucker vs Short-Winged Blister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Box Sucker	Short-Winged Blister Beetle
Scientific Name	Psylla buxi	Meloe violaceus
Order	Hemiptera	Coleoptera
Family	Psyllidae	Meloidae
Size	2-3 mm	15-32 mm
Habitat	Gardens	Beaches & Coastal
Diet	Herbivores	Herbivores
Regions	Europe	Europe
Conservation	Least Concern	Near Threatened

Box Sucker

A tiny jumping plant louse that causes cupping and distortion of box leaves. Nymphs produce waxy secretions. Can cause significant damage to ornamental box hedges.

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Did You Know?

Causes the characteristic cupped and distorted leaves seen on many box hedges in spring.

Short-Winged Blister Beetle

A blue-violet oil beetle found across Europe, often seen walking on paths and open ground in spring. Like other oil beetles, it oozes cantharidin-laced fluid from its joints when threatened.

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Did You Know?

A single female can lay over 4,000 eggs in a season, but fewer than one percent of larvae survive to adulthood.