Lachnaia variolosa (Linnaeus, 1767)
Body Length: 6 to 11mm
Family: Chrysomelidae – Leaf beetles
Season April to June.
It is a fairly common beetle, found in North Africa and mainly Spain, although not so common in Catalonia. Has recently been recorded in Portugal, Southwest of Europe.
Habitat: Various terrains visited, from open scrubland to woodland edges; wherever their food plants are growing like Marfull, (flowering plant in the family: Adoxaceae, native to the Mediterranean area of Europe and North Africa) also feeds on the foliage of Mastic Trees and Pistacia lentiscus bushes.
The female will lay her eggs on or near the host plant, not so much underground, the number of eggs laid at a time can vary considerably, from a few dozen to a few thousand!
In favourable climatic conditions, up to four generations a year could evolve.
As with most leaf beetles it is considered as a pest to commercial growers. The adults can live up to two years, The larvae will be feeding on the root system, while at the same time the adult beetle will devour the leaves. This has a high detrimental effect on the host plants survival.