Imatidiini
Hope, 1840
Genus Guides
1Imatidiini is a tribe of leaf beetles within the Cassidinae, established by Frederick William Hope in 1840. Members of this tribe are found primarily in the Americas and Asia. The tribe includes such as Calliaspis, whose stages were described for the first time in 2017. Some within the tribe are associated with bromeliads and exhibit leaf-scraping feeding .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Imatidiini: /ˌiː.məˈtɪd.iˌiː.naɪ/
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Identification
Members of Imatidiini can be distinguished from other Cassidinae tribes by tribal-level morphological characters, though specific diagnostic features require examination of and larval . The tribe is distinguished from the superficially similar Cephaloleiini in classification systems that recognize both as valid tribes.
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Habitat
vary by ; at least some in the genus Calliaspis are associated with bromeliads in Southern Brazil. Broader habitat associations for the tribe as a whole are not well documented.
Distribution
Found mostly in the Americas and Asia. Specific distribution records include Southern Brazil for some Calliaspis .
Diet
and larvae of at least some (e.g., Calliaspis umbonata and C. cinnabarina) are leaf scrapers, feeding on leaf tissue. The diet of other within the tribe has not been established.
Host Associations
- Bromeliaceae - plantEstablished for Calliaspis umbonata and C. cinnabarina in Southern Brazil; broader range for tribe unknown
Life Cycle
stages include larvae; mature larvae of some have been described. The of most remains undocumented.
Behavior
Leaf-scraping feeding has been observed in and larvae of some . Other behavioral traits for the tribe are not established.
Ecological Role
Herbivores on plant leaves; specific functions beyond consumption of plant tissue are not documented.
Similar Taxa
- CephaloleiiniClosely related tribe within Cassidinae; historically confused or synonymized with Imatidiini in some classifications. Distinguishable by tribal-level morphological characters.
- SpilophoriniFormerly included some now placed in Imatidiini; separation based on revised tribal boundaries.
- HybosispiniIncludes formerly placed in Imatidiini; distinguished by tribal-level morphological characters.
More Details
Taxonomic Status
The Catalogue of Life lists Imatidiini as a synonym of Cephaloleiini, reflecting ongoing taxonomic debate. However, multiple sources including Wikipedia and recent primary literature treat Imatidiini as a valid tribe.
Fossil Record
The tribe includes two fossil : †Cephaloleichnites and †Denaeaspis (Chaboo & Engel, 2009).
Taxonomic History
Several have been moved to or from Imatidiini: Stilpnaspis (synonym of Demotispa), Cladispa (now in Spilophorini), Octocladiscus (synonym of Caloclada), and Solenispa (now in Hybosispini).