Tansy beetle

The tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) is a green leaf beetle, about the size of a small finger nail and with a metallic sheen. The common name derives from the tansy plant on which they often feed as both larvae and adults. In the United Kingdom, its range is currently restricted to about 45 km of the banks of the River Ouse centred on York, North Yorkshire. Although there are scattered records from across England some of these may represent mis-identifications of the mint beetle (Chrysolina herbacea), a more widespread species. Tansy beetles were certainly known from Wicken Fen near Cambridge, where they fed on mint (Mentha spp.) not tansy, but the last record for the beetle there was in 1981. In August 2014 one was sighted at Woodwalton Fen.

The Tansy Beetle Action Group (TBAG) was set up in 2008 to initiate and oversee conservation efforts and comprises representatives from the University of York, North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council, Environment Agency, National Trust and Buglife. A recovery programme started, involving annual surveys of both tansy and beetles, control of tree shading and invasive plants that compete with tansy, such as Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), and limited re-introductions within the current species range.