Global InformationPhaedon cochleariae information
| Phaedon cochleariae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus: | Phaedon |
| Species: | P. cochleariae
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| Binomial name | |
| Phaedon cochleariae (Fabricius, 1792)
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Phaedon cochleariae (commonly called mustard beetle or watercress beetle) is a non-social, holometabolous[1] species of leaf beetle native to Europe.[2][page needed]
They experience distinct personalities that are influenced by population density, sex, inbreeding, and diet. This is exhibited by varying levels of aggression and sexual activity. As non-social creatures, P. cochleariae thrive in lower population densities, where they benefit from reduced competition and abundant resources which improve their individual fitness. They are at a potential risk of extinction because of high levels of inbreeding depression in the wild.
The mustard leaf beetle is a common pest of horseradish and cabbage plants.[3] Their diet of external leaves makes them overtly visible to predators. Due to their high visibility, they have evolved to secrete defensive and volatile substances, called irdoids, to deter predators. These secretions also contain antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
- ^ Müller, Thorben; Küll, Christina Luise; Müller, Caroline (9 September 2016). "Effects of larval versus adult density conditions on reproduction and behavior of a leaf beetle". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 70 (12): 2081–91. doi:10.1007/s00265-016-2212-1. JSTOR 44856941.
- ^ Warchałowski, Andrzej (2003). Chrysomelidae : the leaf-beetles of Europe and the Mediterranean area. Warsawa: Natura Optima dux Foundation. ISBN 978-83-918040-0-1. OCLC 77850541.
- ^ Gross, Jürgen; Müller, Caroline; Vilcinskas, Andreas; Hilker, Monika (November 1998). "Antimicrobial Activity of Exocrine Glandular Secretions, Hemolymph, and Larval Regurgitate of the Mustard Leaf BeetlePhaedon cochleariae". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 72 (3): 296–303. Bibcode:1998JInvP..72..296G. doi:10.1006/jipa.1998.4781. PMID 9784354.