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Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull, 1799)
Viburnum Leaf Beetle
Family: Chrysomelidae
Introduction to the Coleoptera of British Columbia
Introduction to the Families of Coleoptera of British Columbia

Photograph

© Libby & Rick Avis     (Photo ID #66312)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Pyrrhalta viburni in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


This species is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced to North America in 1947 (Wikipedia 2012). It is found in eastern Canada the northeastern US (Gyeltshen and Hodges 2012). It is known in BC from Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley and was confirmed here in 2001 (BC Ministry of Agriculture 2012).

The BC Ministry of Agriculture (2012) provides the following information on this species: "Both the adult and larval...stages feed exclusively on Viburnum species. European highbush cranberry or Snowball tree (Viburnum opulus) is a preferred host. Heavy infestations can defoliate shrubs, causing die-back and death after repeated infestations. Highly susceptible species can be killed in 2-3 years. Larvae are present in early spring, followed by adults in early summer, after a short pupation period. In summer, adults lay overwintering eggs inserted into one- or two-year-old branches."

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
ExoticSNAExoticNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

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