About Chrysolina cerealis (Linnaeus, 1767)
Chrysolina cerealis, also called the rainbow leaf beetle, can reach a body length of 5.5–10 millimetres (0.22–0.39 in). Females of this species are typically larger than males. The coloration of its pronotum and elytra is quite variable. Usually it is metallic green with three blue and red longitudinal stripes, that show golden reflections, which is how the species got its common name. The subspecies Chrysolina cerealis mixta has entirely metallic blue pronotum and elytra. The underparts of this beetle are dark blue. This species occurs in most Eurasian countries, with a range extending from Norway to northern Italy, from Ussuri in the east to Snowdonia, Wales in the west. These leaf beetles inhabit forests, woodlands, meadows, wastelands, and montane grasslands located over 600m above sea level.
