Tropical milkweed leaf beetle | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
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]
L. suturella is a small, rounded beetle with a black head, pronotum, and elytra - the elytra are spotted with orange or yellow patches.
L. suturella has a native range in Central and Southern America, from Northern Mexico to Brazil. [2]
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]
As the common name suggests, L. suturella is primarily associated with milkweeds ( Asclepias).
Tropical milkweed leaf beetle | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
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]
L. suturella is a small, rounded beetle with a black head, pronotum, and elytra - the elytra are spotted with orange or yellow patches.
L. suturella has a native range in Central and Southern America, from Northern Mexico to Brazil. [2]
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]
As the common name suggests, L. suturella is primarily associated with milkweeds ( Asclepias).