Lilioceris merdigera
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Lilioceris merdigera, the Onion beetle, is a species of beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Criocerinae. This species can be found in most Europe (especially in Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Russia, and Slovakia) and in the eastern Palearctic realm (China, Japan, and Taiwan). It has been introduced also in Brazil and Mexico.
These shining leaf beetles inhabit edges of forests, fields and gardens. Lilioceris merdigera can reach a length of 6–8 mm. Head, pronotum, elytra, femora and tibiae are bright red and elytra bear several rows of dots. It can be easily distinguished by the similar Lilioceris lilii which has black instead of red legs and head. This species is also similar to Lilioceris schneideri.
The larvae are typically covered by blackish mucilaginous substances mixed with their own faeces, that seem to have a protective function. The specific epithet merdigera derives from its habit, from Latin merda (dung) and gero (to carry). The adult beetles can produce chirping sounds through their stridulation apparatus on the anal segment.
Adults overwinter in the soil. They emerge... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Onion Beetle sighting in Moscow on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 608th most-seen of the 1111 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Onion Beetle in Moscow on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Onion Beetle sightings, Moscow ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Vienna (Austria, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Onion Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Moscow (12 verified sightings), 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.
