(Chrysolina americana)
Rosemary Beetle
The Rosemary Beetle (Chrysolina americana) is a fairly recent arrival in the United Kingdom. Believed to have first been seen here in the UK back in 1994, this invasive beetle is now widespread throughout the south.
The beetle is distinctive and strikingly beautiful. Catching and reflecting the light on its chrome like back, the beetle is approximately 1 cm in length and has metallic green and purple stripes.
Their larvae have been described as “Slug Like” and are a pale colour with a dark horizontal stripe down the side.
The beetle likes to feed on Rosemary (hence its name) and other aromatics lavender, thyme and sage.
The photograph to the left was taken at the edge of Bradgers Hill in July 2016 close to nearby residential addresses. It shows a Rosemary beetle on the rear of a fence panel. It is not currently known how widespread the beetle is on Bradgers Hill.
If your see one, take a photo and submit it to us for use on this website, along with the location if possible. We’d love to see your submission.
