Chaetocnema concinna, commonly known as the brassy flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. It is also referred to by several other common names, including the hop flea beetle, beet flea beetle, mangold flea beetle, and brassy-toothed flea beetle.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by the English entomologist Thomas Marsham in 1802. It belongs to the genus Chaetocnema, a large genus of flea beetles comprising some 470 described species worldwide, within the subfamily Galerucinae (tribe Alticini) of the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae.
Description
Chaetocnema concinna is a small beetle, measuring approximately 1.5–2.3 mm in length. It is characterized by a metallic green or brassy sheen on its body and elytra (wing covers), which are arranged in straight rows of punctures. Diagnostic traits include a median carina (ridge) on the frons (front of the head) and a pronotum with distinct punctation.
Distribution
The species is native to Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and has been introduced to North America. It was first documented in Canada in the late 1980s and has since spread within the continent.
Ecology and Host Plants
Chaetocnema concinna exhibits broad host plant associations. Its hosts include plants from many families, such as Poaceae (grasses), Cyperaceae (sedges), Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot family, including sugar beet), Convolvulaceae (bindweeds), Polygonaceae (knotweeds), and Malvaceae (mallows). In Europe, it is considered the most important pest of sugar beet, though its economic impact in North America remains unquantified. Depending on context, the species can function as either a pest or a beneficial insect.
