Altica

Altica are small flea-beetles usually found near water. There are several similar species, and identification is difficult, often requiring dissection of a specimen.

All the species in the genus have powerful back legs, enabling it to jump when disturbed. They have distinct 'tubercles' on the front shoulders of the elytra and the pronotum has a deep basal furrow which almost reaches the side margins. Punctuation on the elytra is 'confused', ie. not arranged in rows or an obvious pattern. The colour of some species is a deep metallic blue, and they can be very common on Great Hairy Willowherb or Purple Loosestrife.

There are other (non Altica)species of small metallic blue beetles.

If you haven't identified the beetle from a specimen, you should record it here, as the genus.  Unless identified by a recognised expert, good photos are required that show the key ID features, and state the beetle's size in the comments box.

Very common.

Very common.