Cassida

Cassida
C. nebulosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Cassidinae
Tribe: Cassidini
Genus: Cassida
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Cassida nebulosa
Diversity
at least 430 species
Cassida vibex
Cassida azurea

Cassida is a large Old World genus of tortoise beetles in the subfamily Cassidinae. The natural history of Cassida sphaerula in South Africa is a typical life cycle.[1] Several species of Cassida are important agricultural pests,[2] in particular C. vittata and C. nebulosa on sugar beet and spinach. The thistle tortoise beetle (Cassida rubiginosa) has been used as a biological control agent against Canada thistle.

The genus name is derived from Latin Cassis for a metal helmet.

There are at least 430 described species in Cassida.[3][4] This genus contains the most species of all Cassidinae.[5] Larvae build shields with their feces and exuviae, a widespread pattern of tortoise beetles.[6]

  1. ^ Adam S., M. Campos, H.D.C. Heron, C. Staines, R. Westerduijn, & C.S. Chaboo. 2022. Natural history notes of Cassida sphaerula Boheman, 1853 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidini) on Arctotheca prostrata (Salisb.) Britten (Asteraceae) in South Africa. Insecta Mundi 095: 1-23.
  2. ^ Chaboo, C.S. 2007. Biology and phylogeny of the Cassidinae (tortoise and leaf-mining beetles) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 305:250pp.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference gbif was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bugref was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Boroweic, L. (1999). A world catalogue of the Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Biologica Silesiae.
  6. ^ Chaboo, C.S., S. Adam, K. Nishida, L. Schletzbaum. 2023. Architecture, construction, retention, and repair of fecal shields in three tribes of tortoise beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae Cassidinae: Cassidini, Mesomphaliini, Spilophorini). ZooKeys Special Issue, Research on Chrysomelidae 9. ZooKeys 1177: 87–146. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1177.102600