Life history and behaviour of Aspidimorpha sanctaecrusis-Arthropoda, Coleoptera, Cassidinae

Cassidine beetles are typical holometabolous insects, popularly known as tortoise beetles. Metamorphosis is prominent, and the life cycle includes stages such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. These are herbivorous insects that feed voraciously on the green tissue of their host plants, which are otherwise considered major weeds belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. Although tiny, if present in large numbers, they often skeletonize the entire plant due to their voracious feeding behaviour, which is why they are effective biocontrol agents for these weeds. The current study reveals the life history and behaviour of a fairly large Cassidine species, Aspidimorpha sanctaecrusis, a tortoise beetle belonging to the family Cassidinae that includes the morphology, behaviour, host plants, feeding pattern, and life cycle stages. The descriptions are made with line drawings and actual photographs.