Chrysolina americana Insect Coleopter Leaf Beetle

Chrysolina americana mm 5-8 Insect Coleopter Leaf Beetle.
Common name: Rosemary Beetle.

It is a Chrysomelidae from the beautiful colored elytra with with metallic green and purple longitudinal stripes. The wings are fairly short, and so it cannot fly.
This species feeds on various aromatic Lamiaceae, mainly rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) (hence the common name), lavender (Lavandula) and thyme (Thymus).
In the Mediterranean region the females lay their eggs in late summer on the leaves of host plants, the larvae show whitish to blackish bands. Larval development continues during the winter months. The pupal stage lasts about three weeks. The imago is released in the spring.
Despite the American species name, this leaf beetle is native and common to southern Europe, North Africa, the Near East and the Middle East.
This species was discovered in the UK in 1994. In 2002 it had become widespread in the London area, spreading rapidly everywhere.