Cassidini

Gyllenhal, 1813

tortoise beetles

Genus Guides

Agroiconota
Cassida(Shiny Tortoise Beetles)
Charidotella(tortoise beetles)
Coptocycla
Deloyala(mottled tortoise beetle (D. guttata))
Erepsocassis
Floridocassis
Gratiana
Helocassis

Cassidini is a large tribe of tortoise beetles within the leaf beetle Cassidinae, comprising approximately 40 and 600 worldwide. Members are commonly known as "tortoise beetles" due to their domed, shield-like appearance. A 2017 phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters found Cassidini to be nonmonophyletic with respect to Aspidimorphini, leading to the formal synonymization of the latter with Cassidini; the same study suggested Ischyrosonychini should also be included. Larvae construct distinctive defensive shields from and faeces using a telescopic , a trait that may represent a synapomorphy for the crown-clade Cassidinae.

Parorectis callosa by (c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick. Used under a CC-BY license.

Deloyala guttata by no rights reserved, uploaded by Zygy. Used under a CC0 license.

Cassidini by (c) Fyn Kynd Photography, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cassidini: /kæˈsɪdɪnaɪ/

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

Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution, with recorded across the Afrotropical region (including Sub-Saharan Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula), the Palaearctic region, the New World, and the Oriental region (including India). The Cassida alone contains 103 valid species in Sub-Saharan Africa and southwestern Arabia.

Host Associations

Inula salicina - plantAsteraceae; recorded for Pilemostoma fastuosa
Inula ensifolia - plantAsteraceae; recorded for Pilemostoma fastuosa
Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) - plantimplied by of Silana farinosa as "curry leaf tortoise beetle"

Life Cycle

hatch into larvae that construct and carry defensive shields throughout larval development. Larvae undergo multiple instars (at least 5 instars documented in Cassida sphaerula), with each moult adding to the shield base. Pupae retain part of the larval shield—either the entire fifth instar shield (faeces + all exuviae) or only the fifth larval exuvia.

Behavior

Larvae construct portable defensive shields using a telescopic to apply faeces onto attached to paired caudal processes. The anus is the exclusive tool for building and repairing shields; mouthparts and legs are not used. Chemicals are also applied to the shield. Shields are pyramidal and can cover most of the body up to the pronotum. Caudal processes serve as the central scaffold, enable shield retention, and facilitate shield movement. Shield construction begins in first instar.

Similar Taxa

AspidimorphiniFormerly recognized as separate tribe, synonymized with Cassidini in 2017 based on morphological phylogenetic analysis showing Cassidini was nonmonophyletic with respect to this group
IschyrosonychiniProposed for inclusion within Cassidini based on same 2017 phylogenetic study
MesomphaliiniRelated tribe within Cassidinae; larvae also construct faecal shields but with different composition and architecture
SpilophoriniRelated tribe within Cassidinae; larvae construct shields composed only of without faecal component, differing from Cassidini

More Details

Taxonomic instability

The internal classification of Cassidini requires substantial revision. Most represented by more than one in phylogenetic analyses were not recovered as monophyletic. Resolution of relationships requires additional evidence from stages, bionomics, and molecular data.

Natural enemies

Brachymeria apicicornis (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) has been reported as a of Silana farinosa in India, representing the first confirmed natural enemy record for this curry leaf tortoise beetle.