The tansy beetle was once widespread in the UK, but now has a severely restricted and declining distribution. The beetle is threatened due to reduction in suitable wetland habitat and food plants, including tansy tanacetum vulgare. Until 2014, the last remaining UK population was thought to be on the River Ouse in York. The tansy beetle was thought to be extinct in the East Anglia fens but was rediscovered at Woodwalton by entomologist Dr Peter Kirby in 2014.
How to identify
This is a difficult species to identify and is frequently confused with other leaf beetles. The pitting and lateral margin on the elytra are good indicators.
Did you know?
The Tansy beetle is named after its preferred food plant, Tansy, which is found commonly on riverbanks. However re-discovered populations in the fens are predominantly feeding on water mint and gypsywort.
