Dicladispa testacea (Linnaeus, 1767)
rockrose prickly leaf beetle
on Cistus
Greece, Lefkas, Katouna, 22.vi.2018 © Laurens van der Linde
lateraal
Cistus salviifolius, France, dép. Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Corrèze, 10.v.2023 © Laurent Chabrol
Cistus spec., Cyprus, Oreites Forest © Ian Barton
Cistus salviifolius, Cyprus, Kato Platres
light from behind
mine
The female bites a hole on the underside of a leaf, then deposits an (rarely two) egg and covers it with frass. The larva makes an irregular upper-surface blotch. Pupation in a new mine that as a broad corridor overlies the midrib (upper picture).
host plants
Cistaceae, monophagous
Cistus albidus, creticus & subsp. eriocephalus, crispus, x florentinus, ladanifer, laurifolius, x laxus, monspeliensis. x obtusifolius. psilosepalus, salviifolius, symphytifolius.
phenology
Larvae and pupae found end May (Cyprus).
BENELUX
Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Mediterranean (Fauna Europaea, 2009); also Switzerland (Germann & Moretti (2006a).
larva
pupa
synonyms
Hispa testacea; Dicladispa occator (Brullé, 1838).
references
d’Alessandro & Biondi (2011a), Amerio, Baldizzone & Picco (1993a), Amsel & Hering (1930a, 1931a, 1933a), Bahillo de la Puebla & Román (2009a), Baselga & Novoa (2002b), Buhr (1930a), García-Ocejo, Gurrea & Petitpierre (1992a), Germann & Moretti (2006a), Grandi (1935a), Gruev (2005a), Hering (1927a, 1930a, 1932e, 1936b, 1957a, 1967a), Jolivet (1953a), Konoplin, Barclay, Hall, ao (2022a), Murria Beltrán (2008b), Petitpierre (2009a), Petitpierre, Sacarés & Jurado-Rivera (2017a), Steinhausen (1994a), Świętojańska, Borowiec & Stach (2014a), Ugarte San Vicente (2005a), Vela, Bastazo & Fritzlar (2017a), Warchalowski (2000a).