Aulacoscelidinae

Adults resemble Jurassic fossil chrysomeloids in the extinct subfamily Protoscelidinae. Distinctive association with cycad host plants may aid field recognition. Specific morphological diagnostic characters for the subfamily are not detailed in available sources.

Associated with cycad host plants in Neotropical regions. Specific microhabitat requirements are not documented.

Mostly Neotropical.

Adults feed on cycad foliage and juices. Larvae feed on and develop within cycad megagametophytes, specifically documented in Dioon merolae.

• New World cycads (Zamiaceae) - obligateAdults feed on foliage; larvae develop within megagametophytes
• Dioon merolae - obligateLarval development documented within megagametophyte

Larval development occurs within cycad seeds. Complete details of egg, pupal, and adult emergence stages are not documented.

Seed predation by immature stages represents a specialized feeding strategy. Adults are associated with cycad foliage.

Cycad seed predator. The ecological impact of this specialized herbivory on cycad populations is not quantified.

• Protoscelidinae (extinct)Adult Aulacoscelidinae resemble Jurassic fossil chrysomeloids in this extinct subfamily, suggesting morphological convergence or phylogenetic relationship.
• Chrysomelidae subfamiliesHistorical classification within Chrysomelidae; taxonomic boundaries have shifted based on molecular and morphological evidence.

• Coleoptera
• Chrysomeloidea
• cycad association
• seed predation
• Neotropical

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Molecular evidence of cycad seed predation by immature Aulacoscelidinae (Coleoptera: Orsodacnidae)