Mangold Flea Beetle

Mangold Flea Beetle - Chaetocnema concinna

Description

1.5-2.3 mm. A dark, shiny flea beetle. Bronze, coppery or dark green with elytral punctures in straight rows. The genus has small teeth on each of the mid and hind tibia. See ID checklist below.

Similar Species

C. picipes is the only other species in the genus with elytral punctuation in clear rows. This has the last antennal segment more pointed and narrow and generally symmetrical.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 1.5-2.3mm
  • A tooth on both mid and hind tibia
  • Elytral punctuation in clear rows
  • Frons with a short median keel
  • Head with a few punctures near the eyes
  • Last antennal segment asymmetrical
  • Pronotum with short lateral grooves
Habitat

Various habitats, sometimes associated with fields of Sugar Beet.

When to see it

Can be found in most months of the year peaking around April and May.

Life History

Feeds on various Polygonaceae (docks, knotweeds) and Chenopodiaceae (Fat-hen, oraches); also Beet, Lesser Periwinkle, Yew and Birches. 

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were approximately 100 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records