Beautiful Colour Chrysomela Populi Insect

Chrysomela populi: The Vibrant Poplar Leaf Beetle
Chrysomela populi, commonly known as the Poplar Leaf Beetle, is a striking and ecologically significant species belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, which comprises the leaf beetles. Distinguished by its bright coloration and close association with poplar and willow trees, Chrysomela populi is widely distributed across the Palearctic region and plays a role both as a fascinating subject for entomological study and as a notable pest in forestry.
Taxonomy and Classification
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Chrysomelinae
Genus: Chrysomela
Species: Chrysomela populi
Authority:The genus Chrysomela includes several brightly colored beetles, but C. populi is particularly recognized for its association with trees of the genera Populus and Salix.
Physical Description
Adult Chrysomela populi are small to medium-sized beetles, measuring approximately 6 to 12 mm in length. Their most distinctive features include:
Bright red or orange elytra, often with a smooth, shiny surface.
A contrasting black pronotum and head, giving them a vivid bicolored appearance.
Oval-shaped, convex bodies, typical of many leaf beetles.
Larvae resemble small, flattened grubs with a soft body and may be gray, black, or yellowish with darker spots. They also display a defense mechanism by exuding a foul-smelling chemical to deter predators.