Chrysomela Aeneicollis, Willow Leaf Beetle

Day 266: Not what would immediately spring to mind upon hearing the word "beetle," the larvae of the Willow Leaf Beetle (Chrsomela aeneicollis) look like something from a science-fiction film. The adult insect is readily identifiable as a beetle, although its colour and pattern are highly variable and can range from black with red or brown spots through pale brown with black spots. The colouration tends toward the darker range as distance from the coastal areas increases. Both the larvae and the adults feed on willow species, skeletonizing the leaves by consuming the tenderer tissues and leaving the tougher vein structure.