Alder Leaf Beatle - Agelastica alni

This is the Alder Leaf Beetle - Agelastica alni - and it is that little black (actually a very deep metallic blue as you can see) shiny beetle that is seen, in sometimes large numbers, chewing holes out of every leaf on alder trees in the springtime (although these two seem to have found something else to occupy them). They greatly favour the Alder but will also munch their way through Beech, Birch, Hazel and Hornbeam leaves as do their black caterpillar larvae. They are widespread in Europe and were also introduced to the US in the 19th century. Once considered extinct in the UK it was found again in Manchester in 2004 and seems to be thriving and extending their range to other areas. This pair were seen at Pennington Flash, Leigh.

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