Cassidinae

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Cassidinae
Hispid beetle.jpg
Platypria sp.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Cassidinae
Gyllenhal, 1813
Tribes

see text

The Cassidinae (tortoise and leaf-mining beetles) are a subfamily of the leaf beetles, or Chrysomelidae. The antennae arise close to each other and some members have the pronotal and elytral edges extended to the side and covering the legs so as to give them the common name of tortoise beetles. Some members, such as in the tribe Hispini, are notable for the spiny outgrowths to the pronotum and elytra.

Contents

Description

The "cassidoids" have a rounded outline with the edges of the pronotum and elytra expanded, spreading out to cover the legs and head. They are often colourful and metallic, with ornate sculpturing; a few species have the ability to change the colour due to water movements within the translucent cuticle. All members of the subfamily have the mouthparts reduced into a cavity in the head capsule, the legs have four segmented tarsi. The hispoids generally have larvae that are leaf miners, while the cassidoids feed externally on the plant surfaces. Within cassidoids, the tortoise beetles are diagnosed by the larvae recycling their feces and cast exuviae into a discrete structure held on the caudal processes (or, urogomphi). Fecal shields are thought to provide protection (thermal, solar, wind, predators, parasites, parasitoids) and the experimental evidence are mixed. [1] [2]

A few species in two closely related tribes (Mesomphaliini and Eugenysini, putative sister taxa) show maternal care of larvae. [3] [4] These species can be viewed as subsocial or parasocial, with evidence pointing to there being two evolutionary origins of subsociality within this one lineage. [3] [5]

Taxonomy

It includes both the former subfamily "Hispinae" (leaf-mining beetles), as well as the former more narrowly defined subfamily Cassidinae (familiar as tortoise beetles) which are now split into several tribes that include the tribe Cassidini, and in all include over 125 genera. The traditional separation of the two groups was based essentially on the habitats of the larvae and the general shapes of the adults. The name Cassidinae for the merged subfamily is considered to have priority. [6]

The former grouping of "Hispinae" (sometimes called leaf-mining beetles, or "hispoids") included the tribes Alurnini, Anisoderini, Aproidini, Arescini, Bothryonopini, Callispini, Callohispini, Cephaloleiini, Chalepini, Coelaenomenoderini, Cryptonychini, Cubispini, Eurispini, Exothispini, Gonophorini, Hispini, Hispoleptini, Hybosispini, Leptispini, Oediopalpini, Oncocephalini, Promecothecini, Prosopodontini, Sceloenoplini and Spilophorini. [7] Most members of these tribes are elongated, slightly flattened beetles with parallel margins, and antennal bases close together on their small heads. They often have punctate elytra and pronotum, sometimes with spines both on and along the edges. The former grouping of Cassidinae (sometimes called tortoise beetles, or "cassidoids") included the tribes Aspidimorphini, Basiprionotini, Cassidini, Delocraniini, Dorynotini, Eugenysini, Goniocheniini, Hemisphaerotini, Mesomphaliini, Notosacanthini, Omocerini and Physonotini. [7]

BioLib currently (March 2024) includes the following tribes:

Aspidimorphini

Auth. Chapuis, 1875; genera:

  1. Aspidimorpha Hope, 1840
  2. Conchyloctenia Spaeth, 1902
  3. Hybosinota Spaeth, 1909
  4. Laccoptera Boheman, 1855
  5. Mahatsinia Weise, 1910
  6. Nilgiraspis Spaeth, 1932

Basiprionotini

Auth. Gressitt, 1952; genera:

  1. Androya Spaeth, 1911
  2. Basiprionota Chevrolat, 1837
  3. Cassidopsis Fairmaire, 1899
  4. Craspedonta Chevrolat, 1837
  5. Epistictina Hincks, 1950
  6. Megapyga Boheman, 1850
  7. Metriopepla Fairmaire, 1882
  8. Pseudandroya Spaeth, 1952
Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813
Delocranini Spaeth, 1929
Dorynotini Monrós & Viana, 1949
Eugenysini Hincks, 1952
Goniocheniini Spaeth, 1942
Hemisphaerotini Monrós & Viana, 1951

Imatidiini

Auth. Hope, 1840 (= Cephaloleiini); genera:

  1. Aslamidium Borowiec, 1984
  2. Calliaspis Dejean, 1837
  3. Cyclantispa Sekerka, 2014
  4. Demotispa Baly, 1858
  5. Imatidium Fabricius, 1801
  6. Katkispa Sekerka, 2014
  7. Lechispa Sekerka, 2014
  8. Parentispa Sekerka, 2014
  9. Parimatidium Spaeth, 1938
  10. Pseudostilpnaspis Borowiec, 2000
  11. Spaethaspis Hincks, 1952
  12. Stilpnaspis Weise, 1905
  13. Weiseispa Sekerka, 2014
  14. Windsorispa Sekerka, 2014

Notosacanthini

Auth. Gressitt, 1952

  1. Herminella Spaeth, 1913
  2. Hermosacantha Borowiec & Świetojańska, 2014
  3. Notosacantha Chevrolat, 1837
Omocerini Hincks, 1952
Physonotini Spaeth, 1942 = synonyms Ischyrosonychini and Physonotini
Spilophorini Chapuis, 1875 (= Oediopalpini)

Stolaini

Auth. Hincks, 1952

  1. Acromis Chevrolat, 1837
  2. Amythra Spaeth, 1913
  3. Anacassis Spaeth, 1913
  4. Anepsiomorpha Spaeth, 1913
  5. Botanochara Dejean, 1837
  6. Chelymorpha Chevrolat, 1837
  7. Convexocoleus Shin, 2013
  8. Cyrtonota Chevrolat, 1837
  9. Echoma Chevrolat, 1837
  10. Elytrogona Chevrolat, 1837
  11. Eutheria (beetle) Spaeth, 1909
  12. Hilarocassis Spaeth, 1913
  13. Mesomphalia Hope, 1839
  14. Nebraspis Spaeth, 1913
  15. Ogdoecosta Spaeth, 1909
  16. Omaspides Chevrolat, 1837
  17. Paraselenis Spaeth, 1913
  18. Phytodectoidea Spaeth, 1909
  19. Poecilaspidella Spaeth, 1913
  20. Stoiba Spaeth, 1909
  21. Stolas (beetle) Billberg, 1820
  22. Terpsis Spaeth, 1913
  23. Trilaccodea Spaeth, 1902
  24. Xenicomorpha Spaeth, 1913
  25. Zatrephina Spaeth, 1909

In addition, Borowiec & Świętojańska (2014) [7] included:

Aproidini
  1. Aproida Pascoe, 1863 [8]
Chalepini (= Uroplatini)
Cryptonychini
Cubispini

The subfamily names Cassidinae and Hispinae are both founded by Gyllenhal in the same 1813 book, but following the Principle of the First Reviser, Chen in this case, [9] priority is given to the name Cassidinae. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaf beetle</span> Family of beetles

The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. Numerous subfamilies are recognized, but the precise taxonomy and systematics are likely to change with ongoing research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassidini</span> Tribe of beetles

The Cassidini are a tribe within the leaf beetle subfamily Cassidinae. The Cassidini comprises approximately 40 genera worldwide, and is one of the largest tribes in the subfamily, containing most of the genera and species known collectively as "tortoise beetles". The subfamily names Cassidinae and Hispinae were both founded by Gyllenhal in the same 1813 book, but following the Principle of the First Reviser, Chen in this case, priority is given to the name Cassidinae.

<i>Cassida</i> Genus of beetles

Cassida is a large Old World genus of tortoise beetles in the subfamily Cassidinae. The natural history of Cassida sphaerula in South Africa is a typical life cycle. Several species of Cassida are important agricultural pests, in particular C. vittata and C. nebulosa on sugar beet and spinach. The thistle tortoise beetle has been used as a biological control agent against Canada thistle.

<i>Acromis spinifex</i> Species of beetle

Acromis spinifex is a species of tortoise beetle from South America. The males have enlarged elytra which are probably used in male–male combat, while females are among the few tortoise beetles to show maternal care of their offspring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fecal shield</span>

The fecal shield is a structure formed by the larvae of many species of beetles in the leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae. It is composed of the frass of the insect and often its exuviae, or bits of shed exoskeleton. The beetle may carry the shield on its back or wield it upon its posterior end. The main function of the fecal shield is defense against predators. Other terms for the fecal shield noted in the literature include "larval clothing", "kotanhang", "faecal mask", "faecal pad", and "exuvio-faecal annex".

<i>Aspidimorpha</i> Genus of beetles

Aspidimorpha is a large Old World genus of beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae and tribe Aspidimorphini. The genus name is frequently misspelled as "Aspidomorpha", due to an unjustified spelling change in 1848.

<i>Proseicela</i> Genus of beetles

Proseicela is a genus of leaf beetles.

<i>Agroiconota</i> Genus of beetles

Agroiconota is a genus of tortoise beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. There are more than 20 described species in Agroiconota.

<i>Physonota</i> Genus of beetles

Physonota is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae. There are more than 40 described species in Physonota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ischyrosonychini</span> Tribe of beetles

Ischyrosonychini is a tribe of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae. There are about 7 genera and at least 70 described species in Ischyrosonychini.

<i>Chelymorpha</i> Genus of beetles

Chelymorpha is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae. There are more than 70 described species in Chelymorpha.

Hilarocassis is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae. There are about 10 described species in Hilarocassis.

<i>Hemisphaerota</i> Genus of beetles

Hemisphaerota is a genus in the subfamily Cassidinae in the family Chrysomelidae. There are about 10 described species in Hemisphaerota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemisphaerotini</span> Tribe of beetles

Hemisphaerotini is a Neotropical tribe of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae. There are at least 2 genera and more than 40 described species in Hemisphaerotini.

Metrionella is a genus of tortoise beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. There are about 12 described species in Metrionella.

Cubispa is a genus of leaf beetles consisting of two species from Central America and the Caribbean. It is classified within the tribe Cubispini, which is placed within either the Eumolpinae or the Cassidinae. Beetles in the genus are wingless, and are associated with cloud forests.

<i>Stolas</i> (beetle) Genus of beetles

Stolas is a genus of leaf beetles.

Cubispini is a tribe of leaf beetles from the Neotropical realm. It is classified within either the Eumolpinae or the Cassidinae. It was established by Francisco Monrós in 1954 to contain the genus Cubispa, which was originally placed in the subfamily Hispinae, in the tribe Cephaloleini. A second genus, Lobispa, was described and placed in the tribe by C.L. Staines in 2001.

The Neotropical tortoise beetle tribe Spilophorini comprises two genera, Calyptocephala Chevrolat, 1836 and Spilophora Boheman, 1850. Biological information is limited but the life cycle includes six larval instars and the larvae construct a shield of their cast skins.

Aproidini is a tribe of Australian tortoise and leaf-mining beetles (Cassidinae) with three recognized species.

References

  1. ↑ Chaboo, C.S., S. Adam, K. Nishida, L. Schletzbaum. 2023. Architecture, construction, retention, and repair of fecal shields in three tribes of tortoise beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae Cassidinae: Cassidini, Mesomphaliini, Spilophorini). ZooKeys Special Issue, Research on Chrysomelidae 9. ZooKeys 1177:87–146. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1177.102600
  2. ↑ Bottcher, A; Jorge Paulo Zolin; Flávia Nogueira-de-Sá; José Roberto Trigo (2009). "Faecal shield chemical defence is not important in larvae of the tortoise beetle Chelymorpha reimoseri (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Stolaini)". Chemoecology. 19 (1): 63–66. doi:10.1007/s00049-009-0006-x. S2CID   23072397.
  3. 1 2 Chaboo, C.S., F.A. Frieiro-Costa, J. Gómez-Zurita, R. Westerduijn. 2014. Subsociality in leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae, Chrysomelinae). Journal of Natural History 48: 1–44.
  4. ↑ Flowers, RW (2008). "Leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)". In Capinera, JL (ed.). Encyclopedia of Entomology (2 ed.). Springer. p.  2148.
  5. ↑ Leocádio, Michele; Simões, Marianna V. P.; Sekarka, Lukas; Shrago, Carlos G.; Mermudes, José R. M.; Windsor, Donald M. (2020). "Molecular systematics reveals the origins of subsociality in tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)". Systematic Entomology . 45 (4): 894–910. doi:10.1111/syen.12434. S2CID   219450159.
  6. 1 2 Chaboo, CS (2007). "Biology and phylogeny of the Cassidinae Gyllenhal sensu lato (tortoise and leaf-mining beetles) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 305: 1–250. doi: 10.1206/0003-0090(2007)305[1:BAPOTC]2.0.CO;2 . S2CID   83469991.
  7. 1 2 3 Borowiec, L.; Świętojańska, J. 2014: 2.7.2 Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813. Pp. 198–217 in: Leschen et al., 2014
  8. ↑ Chaboo, C.S., V.E. Sandoval-Gómez, M. Hopper, & G.B. Monteith. 2024. Biology of Aproida balyi Pascoe, 1863 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Aproidini) on its host plant, Eustrephus latifolius R. Rr. ex Ker-Gawl (Asparagaceae) in Australia. Insecta Mundi 1074: 1-28.
  9. ↑ Chen, S. H. (1940). "Attempt at a new classification of the leaf beetles". Sinensia. 11: 451–481.
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