{{Short description|Species of beetle}} {{Speciesbox | image = Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792).jpg | genus = Macroplea | species = mutica | authority = Fabricius, 1792 | synonyms = }}
'''''Macroplea mutica''''' is a species of leaf beetles of the subfamily Donaciinae. It considered to be a Palearctic species, but can be found in Central Europe and Turkey.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/zoos.201100007 | volume=87 | title=The first representative of the fully aquatic leaf beetle genus Macroplea Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Turkey: Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792), with notes on its biology, habitat, host plant and distribution | year=2011 | journal=Zoosystematics and Evolution | pages=291–295 | last1 = Türkgülü | first1 = İbrahim}}</ref>
==Discovery== The species were first discovered by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1792, in Eastern Anatolia.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/zoos.201100007 | volume=87 | title=The first representative of the fully aquatic leaf beetle genus Macroplea Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Turkey: Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792), with notes on its biology, habitat, host plant and distribution | year=2011 | journal=Zoosystematics and Evolution | pages=291–295 | last1 = Türkgülü | first1 = İbrahim}}</ref> Throughout time, the species have been discovered in South England and Ireland, and also, in countries of Central Europe, such as: North Germany, and Hungary. The species were also found in Scandinavia, especially in countries like Sweden, and Finland.
==Description== Adults size is 4.5–6 mm, but could extend up to 7 mm.<ref>[http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/biodiv/endangered/Invertebrates/en_GB/Macroplea_mutica/ Length of a beetle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405194101/http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/biodiv/endangered/Invertebrates/en_GB/Macroplea_mutica/ |date=2013-04-05 }}</ref> Prothorax much narrowed to the base, mostly with two or three longitudinal black spots. The vertex angle of elytron is extended in a triangular spine.
==Distribution== The beetle lives in Baltic, Mediterranean, and Caspian Seas. Some of the species were discovered on Lake Balaton, in Hungary, which were apparently relatives of the Baltic Sea species.<ref>[http://www.mendeley.com/research/aquatic-leaf-beetle-macroplea-mutica-coleoptera-chrysomelidae-europe-population-structure-postglacial-colonization-signature-passive-dispersal-1/ Species distribution]</ref>
==Threat level== The species is on mixed level of danger. In Poland it considered to be critically endangered, while at the same time, in Germany, is considered to be on an Endangered species list. In Sweden and Finland, though, no decline have been recorded, so the species are not in any danger there at all.<ref>[http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/biodiv/endangered/Invertebrates/en_GB/Macroplea_mutica/ Helcom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405194101/http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/biodiv/endangered/Invertebrates/en_GB/Macroplea_mutica/ |date=2013-04-05 }}</ref>
==Ecology== Adult beetles are grazing on the leaves of pondweed (''Potamogeton'') and Ruppia (''Ruppiaceae'').
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Beetles of Europe Category:Beetles described in 1792 Category:Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius mutica