Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 230

The green dock beetle is a species found in central Europe, Britain, western Siberia, and the Caucasus Mountains. Males are about 4 mm in length, while females are 7 mm, with enlarged abdomens during mating season. The beetles have a metallic green color that can appear as gold green, blue, purple, violet, or red depending on the light. They primarily feed on dock and green sorrel plants, but can also eat other plants in certain families. The breeding season lasts from March to October, with 2 to 4 broods per year. The females lay over 1,000 eggs, which hatch after 3 to 6 days. Larvae go through three instars before pupating underground, and the adult emerges about 6 to 9 days later. The green coloration is due to a multilayer composed of chitin and melanin.