COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > CHRYSOMELOIDEA > Chrysomelidae > Cryptocephalinae

Despite being an extremely large cosmopolitan subfamily of more than 5000 species, Cryptocephalinae is poorly represented in Britain. There are currently 24 recorded species, but at least four, very possibly five, are extinct and, of the remainder, many are rare or local and nationally scarce. Very few are regarded as common.

Apart from an outside chance of encountering Clyta quadripunctata, possibly in the New Forest, the only species I'm likely to see locally are some of the Cryptophalus 'pot beetles'. They are distinctive beetles that can be recognised by their general appearance being elongate, parallel-sided and domed with their head hidden under the pronotum when viewed from above. The individual species can all be identified by their appearance, colour and/or markings. They are colloquially known as 'pot beetles' due to the cocoons in which the larvae develop that the females construct from their own faeces when laying their eggs.

Cryptocephalus aureolus (Green Pot Beetle) has widespread, but local distribution and, consequently, is regarded as nationally scarce. The species prefers short grassland where it may be seen on yellow flowers during the early summer months. It's around 6-8mm long and could only be confused with Cryptocephalus hypochaeridis (Small Green Pot Beetle), except that species is typically smaller and is more likely to be found in limestone areas or around coastal dunes. Apart from the size difference, Cryptocephalus hypochaeridis has a finer and more sparsely punctured pronotum than Cryptocephalus aureolus and a slightly transverse rather than quadrate shaped scutellum.

Other species of note are Cryptocephalus labiatus (Common Black Pot Beetle), C.pusillus (Common Small Pot Beetle), C.fulvus (Yellow Pot Beetle) and C.moraei (Hypericum Pot Beetle). They are all regarded as being relatively common and of 'least concern'. Cryptocephalus parvulus (Blue Pot Beetle) and C.bipunctatus (Black-and-Red Pot Beetle) are both nationally scarce, but could be encountered locally.

Created, Jan.22 (v.1)