Alder Leaf Beetle

I’m pretty sure this is an alder leaf beetle - only small, less than 10mm but lovely and shiny. I don’t think we have alder in the hedge but we do have hazel, which they also live on.

There are a lot of these around at the moment. Apparently they were considered extinct in the UK until fairly recently. 

I saw this one being hassled by an ant the other day. It wouldn’t leave off - they’re, not just irritating to humans!

The alder leaf beetle isn’t a pest on the allotment and they don’t do lasting damage to trees apart from to the leaves.