Classification: | Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Coleoptera | Family: Chrysomelidae | Genus: Podontia |

The host plant of this beetle is Spondias dulcis (Golden Apple). A massive invasion of three Golden Apple shrubs by the beetle was seen in July 2012 along a cycling track. Another species, Podontia quatuordecimpunctata, also attacked the Golden Apple shrub. However, the hard wings (elytra) of P. quatuordecimpunctata are orange in colour [1].

When I last check the information of this beetle in the Internet in mid-August 2012, there is not a single photo available although there was one drawing of the beetle in the Flea beetle website. Interestingly, there was an article dated back to 1978 that described this beetle found in Indonesia with yellow elytra [2].

The nymph is covered by a layer of dark brown slimy substance on its back as a way of camouflage to avoid detection by its predator. The slimy substance is thought to be faecal material. The side view of the nymph provides a better view of the position of the slimy substance.

Reference:

1. Prathapan K. D., C. S. Chaboo, 2011. Biology of Blepharida-group flea beetles with first notes on natural history of Podontia congregata Baly 1865, an endemic flea beetle from southern India (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini). Zookeys 157: 95-130. | HTML | PDF (8.8MB) |

2. Scherer G., 1978. Podontia affinis (Grondal) a Polytypic Species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticinae). Spixiana, 1 (3): 275- 280.