Tropical milkweed leaf beetle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Labidomera
Species:
L. suturella
Binomial name
Labidomera suturella

Labidomera suturella, commonly known as the tropical milkweed leaf beetle is a species of beetle from the family Chrysomelidae.[1]

Description

L. suturella is a small, rounded beetle with a black head, pronotum, and elytra - the elytra are spotted with orange or yellow patches.

Distribution

L. suturella has a native range in Central and Southern America, from Northern Mexico to Brazil.[2]

Lifecycle

Adults are active between April and August.[3]

A study has shown that this species exhibits maternal care of larvae; they were observed guarding larvae whilst feeding on Witheringia heteroclita in Costa Rica[1] This was a response to predatory threats, as worker ants of Paraponera clavata were observed carrying larvae to their nest.[1]

Diet

As the common name suggests, L. suturella is primarily associated with milkweeds (Asclepias).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Choe, J.C. (1989). "Maternal care in Labidomera suturella Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) from Costa Rica". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 96 (1–2): 63–68. doi:10.1155/1989/62318.
  2. ↑ Blackwelder, R.E. (1944–1957). "Checklist of the Coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, part 4". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 185.
  3. ↑ Quinn, M. (2006). "Tropical Milkweed Leaf Beetle". Texas Beetle Information. Retrieved 2017-07-21.


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