About Crepidodera aurata (Marsham, 1802)
Adult Crepidodera aurata are oval-shaped and measure 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) in length. Males of this species are black, while females are green. Both sexes have orange legs and antennae. This beetle can be found anywhere willow trees grow. They hibernate under tree bark or plant debris, and may also be found under logs and in mud. Individuals of this species live 8–9 months. They are active during spring, particularly in May, and can be found on the ground beneath trees that have begun budding. From May to June, these beetles are visible on poplars and willows, whose leaves they feed on, leaving characteristic round feeding holes. Mating occurs from June to August. Females lay their yellow, spindle-shaped eggs on leaves they have recently fed on. Eggs hatch into larvae in summer. Fully grown larvae are 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long, black, and slug-like in shape. Larvae feed on the same host plant species that the adult generation fed on. Larvae develop into adults over approximately three months, after which the life cycle repeats.
