Viburnum Beetle - Pyrrhalta viburni

A small golden brown beetle (about 5 mm long), nearly always associated with plants of the Viburnum family.

On Viburnum plants, such as Guelder Rose, but also feeds on the Wayfaring Tree and garden varieties.

Adult beetles emerge in July and August.

The beetle's creamy white larvae cause damage to the leaves in early summer, before pupating in the ground. The adults also feed on the leaves before laying their eggs on the tips of young shoots.

This species is common over much of England.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 17 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.