About Lochmaea suturalis (Thomson, 1866)
Lochmaea suturalis, commonly called the heather beetle, is a species of beetle in the genus Lochmaea that is native to north-west Europe. It feeds on heather. This beetle is around 6 millimetres (0.24 inches) long, with a brownish color that provides camouflage, making it difficult to spot. Individuals tend to hide, and will drop into undergrowth when disturbed. They are much easier to see when large groups gather on the same plant. Adult heather beetles spend the winter in dormant diapause, hiding in moss or plant litter in the undergrowth below heather plants. They remain dormant until rising spring temperatures stimulate them to emerge, feed, and reproduce. After emerging in spring, adults can fly distances of up to several miles. They typically fly to new areas after a fire, when local heather is poor quality, or when heavy browsing has converted heather habitat into grassland. Despite their preference for heather, heather beetles have some resilience, and can survive for some time in grassland habitats, including grasslands dominated by Deschampsia flexuosa.
