Alder Leaf Beetle

Alder Leaf Beetle

Agelastica alni

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Biebrza National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

8 Verified sightings at Biebrza National Park From 2019 to 2026
102 In all 6 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Alder Leaf Beetle

Agelastica alni, the alder leaf beetle, is a species of leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) in the genus Agelastica. Agelastica alni is distributed in Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, north-eastern Kazakhstan, and in the 19th century was introduced to the United States.

The beetle and the beetle's larval host is the grey or speckled alder (Alnus incana) and to a lesser extent black alder (Alnus glutinosa), but it will also be found on hazel, birch or hornbeam if there is a shortage of food. It causes large holes and gaps in leaves from the end of April onwards, which are produced by the larvae in the first two stages, but the main damage is produced by larvae in the third stage.

Previously rare, and considered extinct in the UK, since being found in Manchester in 2004 it appears to be on the increase in the North West of England. Its range has been extending and it was found in Nottinghamshire and Hampshire in 2014 and in North Wales in 2018. This beetle has now been seen in North Yorkshire as of 29-09-24. Seen in York as of 15.5.25

The alder leaf beetle is a relatively small beetle, around 6–7 mm, black or metallic blue in colour. The winged adults overwinter and emerge in... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
2 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
3 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~10%
4 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
5 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
6 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~40%
2 Manchester 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~40%
3 Helsinki 🇫🇮 Finland
~20%
4 Leeds 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
5 Essen 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
6 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
7 Bishkek 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
~20%
8 Rotterdam [The Hague] 🇳🇱 Netherlands
~20%
9 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
10 Hamburg 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Alder Leaf Beetle in Biebrza National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report an Alder Leaf Beetle sighting in Biebrza National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 40th most-seen of the 97 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Alder Leaf Beetle in Biebrza National Park?

May

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Alder Leaf Beetle in Biebrza National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and June–October, the lowest months. December has too few records to rate.

What time of day is best to see an Alder Leaf Beetle?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Alder Leaf Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Biebrza National Park the best place to see an Alder Leaf Beetle?

Yes

Of the 6 parks where we can rate Alder Leaf Beetle sightings, Biebrza National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Snowdonia National Park (United Kingdom, about 10%) and Białowieża National Park (Poland, about 10%).

Where does the Alder Leaf Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Alder Leaf Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Biebrza National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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