An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phorophytes. Epiphytes take part in nutrient cycles and add to both the diversity and biomass of the ecosystem in which they occur, like any other organism. They are an important source of food for many species. Typically, the older parts of a plant will have more epiphytes growing on them. Epiphytes differ from parasites in that they grow on other plants for physical support and do not necessarily affect the host negatively. An organism that grows on another organism that is not a plant may be called an epibiont. Epiphytes are usually found in the temperate zone or in the tropics. Epiphyte species make good houseplants due to their minimal water and soil requirements. Epiphytes provide a rich and diverse habitat for other organisms including animals, fungi, bacteria, and myxomycetes.
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.
The Cassidinae 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.
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.
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.
Omocerus bicornis is a species of tortoise beetle from South America. It lives on Cordia (Boraginaceae) plants, and is found in Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1763 work Centuria Insectorum under the name Cassida bicornis, and was later made the type species of the genus Omocerus by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel and Alcide d'Orbigny in 1843.
Denaeaspis is an extinct genus of tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae and containing a single species Denaeaspis chelonopsis. The species is known only from the Middle Eocene Parachute Member, part of the Green River Formation, in the Piceance Creek Basin, Garfield County, northwestern Colorado, USA.
Eosacantha is an extinct genus of tortoise beetle in the family Chrysomelidae and containing a single species Eosacantha delocranioides. The species is known only from the Middle Eocene Parachute Member, part of the Green River Formation, in the Piceance Creek Basin, Garfield County, northwestern Colorado, USA.
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".
Cephaloleia lepida is a species of rolled-leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first found in Panama.
Cephaloleia immaculata is a species of rolled-leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first found in Costa Rica.
Cephaloleia splendida is a species of rolled-leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Cephaloleia cyanea is a species of rolled-leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, first found in Costa Rica, Colombia and Venezuela.
Strongylocassis is a genus of tortoise beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, containing a single species, S. atripes.
Platypria (Platypria) echidna, is a species of leaf beetle found India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Aspidimorpha dorsata, commonly known as golden tortoise beetle or furcated tortoise beetle, is a species of leaf beetle widely distributed in Oriental region from Sri Lanka to South China towards Java, and Borneo.
Cassida (Crepidaspis) cognobilis, is a species of leaf beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, Laos and Thailand.
Epistictina reicheana, is a species of leaf beetle found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tasmania.
Laccoptera (Laccopteroidea) quatuordecimnotata, is a species of leaf beetle native to India, and Sri Lanka.
Notosacantha vicaria is a species of leaf beetle native to India, and Sri Lanka.
