Rosemary leaf beetle

Latin name: Chrysolina americana

This spectacular beetle was first found outdoors in the UK in 1994. Since then it has been recorded many times in the South East of England. In the last few years it has spread quite rapidly, and the photographs show specimens taken from a garden in Bolton, in 2007.

Gardeners in the North West will soon see this unmistakable beetle more often, because it lives mainly on Rosemary (Rosimarinus officinalis) but also on other plants in the same family, such as Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

Although the beetle apparently only causes slight damage to plants, you may want to get rid of it. Pesticides of course will work, but will also kill a lot of other things you may want in the garden. Because the adult beetles, and larvae, are quite large, it is easy to pick them off.

If you live in and around Bolton and think you have found this beetle, Don Stenhouse, one of the Bolton Museum Curators of Natural Sciences, would like to hear about it.

Please contact him at don.stenhouse@bolton.gov.uk