Cereal Leaf Beetle vs Ragwort Flea Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cereal Leaf Beetle | Ragwort Flea Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oulema melanopus | Longitarsus jacobaeae |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America (invasive), Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cereal Leaf Beetle
A small beetle with metallic blue-black elytra and a red-orange thorax. Its larvae strip the upper leaf surface of cereal crops.
Did You Know?
Larvae carry a shield of their own faeces on their backs to deter predators and prevent desiccation.
Ragwort Flea Beetle
A small black flea beetle that feeds on ragwort plants. Successfully used as a biological control agent for invasive ragwort in Australia and New Zealand. Larvae mine in roots.
Did You Know?
One of the most successful biological control agents ever used, dramatically reducing ragwort in multiple countries.