Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines

Cassidinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Cassidinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cassidinae: /kæsɪˈdɪniˌi/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Look what I found in my spinach (40375034070) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Cassida.rubiginosa by James K. Lindsey. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Cassida-flaveola-05-fws by Francisco Welter-Schultes. Used under a CC0 license.

Tortoise Beetle (Cassida piperata) nymph by WanderingMogwai. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Cassida Rubiginosa (3256157144) by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Cassida flaveola-o by Magnefl. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

The Cassidinae subfamily comprises tortoise beetles and some leaf-mining beetles (formerly Hispinae), characterized by their rounded bodies, protective adaptations in larvae, and a global distribution with a high diversity in tropical areas.

Physical Characteristics

The Cassidinae have a rounded outline with the pronotum and elytra expanded to cover the legs and head. They are often colorful and metallic with ornate sculpturing. Some species are capable of changing their color due to water movements within their translucent cuticle.

Identification Tips

Key identifying features include the reduced mouthparts housed in a cavity within the head capsule and the four segmented tarsi of their legs. Tortoise beetles have larvae that recycle feces into protective structures (fecal shields) on their bodies.

Habitat

The Hispinae generally prefer leaf-mining environments while the tortoise beetles feed externally on plant surfaces. Their habitats can range from various terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in tropical regions where diversity is higher.

Distribution

Cassidinae are distributed worldwide, with around 7,000 species documented globally. They are more diverse in tropical regions.

Diet

Members of the subfamily mostly feed on plant surfaces, with larvae of the Hispini tribe being leaf miners.

Life Cycle

The life cycle includes larval stages that may involve mining in leaves for some tribes (Hispini) and external feeding for tortoise beetles. Certain species exhibit maternal care for larvae, suggesting a subsocial lifestyle.

Reproduction

Reproductive strategies vary among tribes, with some showing evidence of maternal care, indicating a level of social structure in certain species.

Ecosystem Role

Cassidinae play a role in their ecosystems as herbivores, influencing plant populations and serving as prey for various predators.

Evolution

The Cassidinae represents a lineage that has evolved distinct larval habitats and feeding strategies, with evidence suggesting multiple evolutionary origins of subsocial behavior within the group.

Misconceptions

Tortoise beetles are not separate from Hispinae; they are all classified under Cassidinae, reflecting a merger of former taxonomic groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary history.