eikehettebladbille
Cryptocephalus querceti
The eikehettebladbille (Cryptocephalus querceti) is a small, metallic-colored leaf beetle with a distinctive rounded body shape and glossy bronze-green elytra. This specialized herbivore feeds exclusively on oak leaves and plays a crucial role in oak forest ecosystems as both a primary consumer and prey species for insectivorous birds and spiders.
18
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Chrysomelidae
Genus
Cryptocephalus
eikehettebladbille belongs to the family Chrysomelidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The eikehettebladbille (Cryptocephalus querceti) is a small, metallic-colored leaf beetle with a distinctive rounded body shape and glossy bronze-green elytra. This specialized herbivore feeds exclusively on oak leaves and plays a crucial role in oak forest ecosystems as both a primary consumer and prey species for insectivorous birds and spiders.
Cryptocephalus querceti faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized oak woodland environments. The species' narrow ecological requirements and limited distribution make it extremely vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities that fragment or destroy its preferred habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Cryptocephalus querceti inhabits mature oak forests and oak-dominated woodland edges, particularly favoring areas with diverse oak species composition and minimal human disturbance. The species requires continuous canopy cover and is most commonly found in forest stands that are at least 80-100 years old.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Cryptocephalus querceti faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized oak woodland environments. The species' narrow ecological requirements and limited distribution make it extremely vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities that fragment or destroy its preferred habitats.
Forest management practices reducing dead wood availability
Habitat loss and fragmentation of oak woodlands
Small population size increasing extinction risk
Agricultural intensification near woodland edges
Climate change affecting oak tree health and distribution
Found in 18 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). eikehettebladbille (Cryptocephalus querceti). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/eikehettebladbille