# Macroplea mutica

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{{Short description|Species of beetle}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792).jpg
| genus = Macroplea
| species = mutica
| authority = [Fabricius](/source/Johan_Christian_Fabricius), 1792
| synonyms =
}}

'''''Macroplea mutica''''' is a species of [leaf beetle](/source/leaf_beetle)s of the subfamily [Donaciinae](/source/Donaciinae). It considered to be a [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic) species, but can be found in [Central Europe](/source/Central_Europe) and [Turkey](/source/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](/source/Johan_Christian_Fabricius) in 1792, in [Eastern Anatolia](/source/Eastern_Anatolia_Region).<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](/source/Southern_England) and [Ireland](/source/Ireland), and also, in countries of Central Europe, such as: [North Germany](/source/Northern_Germany), and [Hungary](/source/Hungary). The species were also found in [Scandinavia](/source/Scandinavia), especially in countries like [Sweden](/source/Sweden), and [Finland](/source/Finland).

==Description==
[Adult](/source/Adult)s size is 4.5–6&nbsp;mm, but could extend up to 7&nbsp;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](/source/Prothorax) much narrowed to the base, mostly with two or three longitudinal black spots. The vertex angle of [elytron](/source/elytron) is extended in a triangular spine.

==Distribution==
The beetle lives in [Baltic](/source/Baltic_Sea), [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Sea), and [Caspian Sea](/source/Caspian_Sea)s. Some of the species were discovered on [Lake Balaton](/source/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](/source/Poland) it considered to be [critically endangered](/source/critically_endangered), while at the same time, in [Germany](/source/Germany), is considered to be on an [Endangered species list](/source/Lists_of_IUCN_Red_List_endangered_species). 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](/source/leaf) of pondweed (''[Potamogeton](/source/Potamogeton)'') and [Ruppia](/source/Ruppia) (''Ruppiaceae'').

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1313670}}

Category:Beetles of Europe
Category:Beetles described in 1792
Category:Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius
mutica

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Macroplea mutica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroplea_mutica) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroplea_mutica?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.