Chrysolina (Stichoptera) sanguinolenta ( Linne , 1758)

Germann, Christoph, Geiser, Michael & Borer, Matthias, 2023, A review of the Chrysolina species - subgenus Stichoptera Motschulsky, 1860 - in Switzerland, with notes on distribution, conservation and preimaginal stages (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), Alpine Entomology 7, pp. 69-82 : 69

Chrysolina (Stichoptera) sanguinolenta ( Linne, 1758)

Note.

Arguably the most widespread species of the subgenus, found across the Palaearctic Region from Great Britain to eastern Siberia and Mongolia, but absent from the Iberian Peninsula ( Kippenberg 2010). Rheinheimer and Hassler (2018) noted that this species has recently seen a sharp population decline in Germany but were not able to name any causes for this.

Material.

1 ex. Genève, Veyrier, 7.VI. [without year] coll. Maerky (MHNG) . 2 ♂, 2 ♀: «Basel» [without date, historical collection] (NMBA) . 1 ex.: VD, Bavois , 5 [without date], coll. G. Toumayeff (MHNG) . 2 ex.: GE, Genève, Bernex, dans rails du Tram, 452 m, coll. Ruchat [without date] (MHNG) . 1 ♀: Sargans , leg. Meli 1878, ex coll. Tr [ Täschler? Record mentioned in Hugentobler 1966] (NMSG) . 1 ex. Niouc [Anniviers] e.V.[18]90 (MHNG) . 1 ♂: VS, Sion , 8.V.[18]97 (MHNG) . 1 ex.: GE, Chèvres [Bernex] 5.7.[19]03, coll. J. Simonet (MHNG) . 1 ♂: Bex , 9. V. [19]04, leg. and coll. G.E. Bryant (BMNH) . 1 ex. Genève, Bel-Air, Rte. d’Ambi [lly], 22.4.[19]17 (MHNG) . 1 ♂: VD, St Cergues V. [ St-Cergue ] 7.VII.[19]21 (MHNG) . 1 ♀: Schuls , 28.7.[19]21, leg. E. Handschin (NMCH) . 1 ex.: GR, Tarasp , 8.1938, coll. G. Toumayeff (MHNG) . 1 ex.: GR, Schuls , 6.1939, coll. G. Toumayeff (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Boulex [VD], 7.8.1941 (AGRO) . 1 ex. VD, Bursinel , 26.IV.1943, coll. Audéoud (MHNG) . 1 ex. [VS] La Batiaz , 5.6.[19]49, leg. and coll. E. Handschin (NMBA) . 1 ♂: Scuol GR 24.VIII.-10.9.[19]53, coll. V. Allenspach (NMBA) . 1 ex. VD, Vincy , 6.6.[19]54 (MHNG) . 1 ex. GE, Genève, Onex, 24.4.[19]59, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 1 ♂ GE, Genève, Onex, 25.4.[19]59, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 1 ex. GE, Genève, Onex, 10.5.[19]59, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 1 ♂, 2 ex.: GE, Genève, Onex, 15.3.[19]60, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 1 ex. GE, Genève, Onex, 31.3.[19]60, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 3 ex. GE, Genève, Onex, 15.3.[19]61, coll. J. Rappo (MHNG) . 1 ex.: VD, Lavey-Morcles , Savatan, 28.5.1964, leg. and coll. P. Scherler (NMBE) . 1 ex. Genf , 9. [19]66 (MHNG) . 1 ex.: VD, Romainmôtier, 5.[19]70, coll. G. Toumayeff (MHNG) . 3 ex.: Begnins [VD] c/nous, 9.5.1970, C. Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Begnins [VD] 5.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Begnins [VD] 17.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Begnins [VD] 18.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 2 ex.: Begnins [VD] 21.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Begnins [VD] en Moinsel, 27.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ex.: Begnins [VD] 28.10.[19]71, Poluzzi (MHNG) . 1 ♂, 1 ♀ VD, Begnins , Villa Caendet 1971, leg. C. Poluzzi (MHNG) . 165 ex. same locality, breeding experiments 1971-1973 (MHNG) . 3 ex. Suisse-Vaud , Begnins-élevage, VII-VIII. 1972, [C.] Poluzzi (MHNG) . 23 ex. Vaud , Begnins, 25.IX.[19]72, C. Poluzzi (MHNG) .

Remarks.

Even though this species seems to have been once common and widely distributed in Switzerland, our survey of the available data paints a rather alarming picture. The most recent records of this species in Switzerland date back to the early 1970ies! Given the amount of collecting activity in many of its former localities in recent decades, its sudden decline cannot be entirely attributed to a lack of sampling.

The larvae of this species are notable for being pale brownish in colour (Fig. 9 ), in contrast to the dark brown or black larvae we observed for Ch. kuesteri and Ch. latecincta . This is based upon observations by Carlo Poluzzi in the canton Vaud in the early 1970ies, when he was still able to find this species in abundance at Begnins. At the time, he also reared this species on Linaria vulgaris and carefully documented his results in a drawing, which is kept at MHNG alongside his collection (Fig. 9 ). Bourdonné et al. (2013) provided a photograph of the pale reddish brown larva of this species.

In September 2022, an attempt was made to find specimens of Ch. sanguinolenta in vineyards around Begnins (Vaud), where it was last observed, but unfortunately without success.

Figures

Figure 9. Preimaginal stages of Chrysolina sanguinolenta on Linaria vulgaris. Drawing by Carlo Poluzzi, original in the MHNG.