DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
31
Tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) and
their feeding patterns from the North Park Nature
Reserve, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa
H.D.C. Heron
P.O. Box 39042, Escombe, Queensburgh 4070, South Africa
Summary
Heron, H.D.C. 2003. Tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) and their feeding patterns from
the North Park Nature Reserve, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Durban Mus. Novit. 28: 3144. An annotated list of 21 Cassid beetles recorded from North Park Nature Reserve over a 16-year period
is presented, together with the host plants they have been observed to use. Silhouette figures, illustrating the
feeding patterns or traces left by imagines, and photographs of imagines, are given. The feeding patterns,
apart from that produced by Notosacantha laticollis, are diagnostic for the Cassids in the Reserve. Ipomoea
obscura (L.) Kur-Gawl (Convolvulaceae) is reported as a host plant for Acrocassis gibbipennis (Boh.) and
Chiridopsis suffriani (Boh.) for the first time. Most of the species have not had their photographs, hitherto,
published.
KEYWORDS: Cassidinae, Durban, feeding patterns, host plants, tortoise beetles, South Africa.
Introduction
Tortoise beetles form a morphologically distinctive sub-family
(Cassidinae) of the leaf-eating beetles (Chrysomelidae).
Recent phylogenetic research has revealed that they are very
close to the sub-family Hispinae and it has been proposed that
they be merged with that sub-family as the cassidoid Hispinae
(Borowiec 1995).
Currently, some 2760 Cassid species have been described
and named worldwide (Borowiec 1999:3) and, of these, 117
are known to occur in South Africa (Borowiec & Swietojanska
2002). Additional species will be described as the taxonomic
review of the Afrotropical Cassidinae, currently being
undertaken by Professor Lech Borowiec of Wroclaw
University, Poland, is published. To date, parts 1, 2 and 3, in a
proposed series of six volumes, have appeared (Borowiec
1994, 1997, 2002).
North Park Nature Reserve is a small property of 53
hectares, consisting essentially of riverine forest, which
borders an arc of the Umhlatuzana River and includes both
north- and south-facing cliff areas. It is rich in bird life and
lepidoptera. The property, proclaimed in 1968, was graciously
donated to the Province by the North family (after whom
Northdene was named) and is administered by Ezimvelo KZN
Wildlife. A brief description appears in Shepherd (1989:36).
Annotated list of species
The 21 Cassid species recorded from the reserve belong to
three Tribes, viz. the Notosacanthini, the Aspidimorphini and
the Cassidini (Borowiec 1995; Swietojonska 2001:3-4) and, in
this paper, are arranged following Borowiec (1999). Only
those host-plants noted to be used by the beetles in the reserve
have been listed and, unless otherwise noted, all the
accompanying leaf silhouette figures were prepared from
specimens collected and preserved from there. Almost nothing
has been published on the biology of South African Cassidinae
since the pioneering work of Muir & Sharp (1904). The beetles
are most readily found by locating their host-plants, and the
feeding patterns, or traces, left by the imagines in their hostplant leaves appear to be a reasonably reliable guide to species
identity in the field (Heron & Borowiec 1997). Specimens,
which represent the majority of the species listed below,
although not necessarily from North Park, are present in the
Coleoptera collection of the Durban Natural Science Museum.
This small collection, last systematically revised by Shaw
(1956:257-272), contains specimens dating back to the late 19th
Century. Colour photographs of most of the world Cassidinae
may be viewed in Borowiec & Swietojanska (2002).
Tribe NOTOSACANTHINI Hincks, 1952
Genus Notosacantha Chevrolat, 1837
This is one of the largest of the genera within the Cassidinae
with over 237 species worldwide (Swietojanska & Borowiec
1999:421). Of these, 92 (nearly 39%) are endemic to
Madagascar and nine (nearly 4%) have been recorded from
South Africa (Borowiec 1999:7-26). About 80% of all
Notosacantha spp. have not been recorded again following
their having been initially described and named (Dabrowska &
Borowiec 1996:45).
Notosacantha laticollis Boheman, 1862 (Appendix 1a)
Host-plant: Rubiaceae: Canthium inerme (L.F.) Kuntze
(Appendix 2i).
Comment: Very rare: only recorded on two occasions.
Larvae are unknown but are anticipated to be leaf-miners.
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
Tribe ASPIDIMORPHINI Chapuis, 1875
Genus Aspidimorpha Hope, 1840
A large genus of 187 species (Borowiec 1999:178). 132
species belonging to eight sub-genera are known from Africa.
South Africa hosts 17 species in five sub-genera (Borowiec
1997).
Sub-genus Aspidimorpha s. Str.
Aspidimorpha icterica Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1b,c)
Host-plants: Convolvulaceae: Hewittia malambarica (L.)
Suresh (formerly H. sublobata (L.f.) O. Ktze), Ipomoea cairica
(L.) Sweet, Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea wightii (Wall.)
Choisy (Appendix 2ii-v).
Comment: A very common metallic golden-yellow species,
which is readily confused with Aspidimorpha tecta Boheman,
1854. Both species occur in coastal KwaZulu-Natal and A.
tecta is probably also to be found in the reserve. Borowiec
(1997:328,546) notes that A. icterica has a more angulate
profile than A. tecta and that the females of A. icterica have a
pubescent apex to the elytral epipleura (A. tecta is glabrous in
both sexes). Further, some specimens of A. icterica have a
partly maculate elytral disc: A. tecta has no maculae. The
metallic colouring is structural and preserved specimens
appear a dull yellow-brown colour. Several studies have been
published on the structural colours of beetles and, in the case of
A. tecta, the metallic gold colouring is attributed to light
interference layers in the cuticle. Put simply, the cuticle
consists of a stacked series of reflector layers having a
“chirped” structure (the spaces between the reflective layers
change progressively with depth in the structure) (Neville
1977; Parker et al 1998). The loss of colour in dead specimens
is linked to the dehydration of the cuticle (Jolivet 1994). The
biology of this species was briefly described by Heron in
Borowiec (1997:324-327).
Aspidimorpha submutata Weise, 1899 (Appendix 1d)
Host-plants: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet,
Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl,
Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy (Appendix 2vi-ix).
Comment: An uncommon but spectacular metallic reddishgold species with conspicuous humeral patches and a sharp
conical postscutellar tubercle when viewed in profile. Its
biology has been briefly described by Heron in Borowiec
(1997:530). Shaw (1956:260) gave the species as A. debilis
Spaeth: this is now a junior synonym of A. submutata
(Borowiec 1999:201).
Sub-genus Afroaspidimorpha Borowiec, 1997
Aspidimorpha areata Klug, 1835 (Appendix 1e)
Host-plant: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet
(Appendix 2x).
Comment: An uncommon but distinctive species in the reserve
with its orange to brownish ground-colour and black markings.
The larvae are very similar in appearance to those of A. confinis
from which they may be distinguished by the presence of
faecal material in the supra-anal furcae. The biology of this
species was briefly described by Heron in Borowiec (1997:1417).
Sub-genus Aspidocassis Borowiec, 1997
Aspidimorpha confinis Klug, 1835 (Appendix 1f)
Host-plants: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet,
Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl,
Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy (Appendix 2 xi-xiv).
32
Comment: An inconspicuous, although common, plain green
species usually seen on the upper leaf surfaces of their host
plant creepers. The solitary larvae, also found on the upper leaf
surfaces, are best distinguished from the larvae of A. areata by
noting lateral spine 15 which, in this species, is twice the length
of spine 16. Also, there is no faecal material in the supra-anal
furca. The biology of this species has been published by Muir
& Sharp (1904) (the description of the ootheca in that paper is
incorrect) and by Heron in Borowiec (1997:68-70).
Sub-genus Megaspidomorpha Hincks, 1952
Aspidimorpha puncticosta Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1g)
Host- plant: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl.
(Appendix 2xv).
Comment: Two immature imagines were observed in the
reserve on one occasion and this is the only record of the
species using Ipomoea ficifolia. It is suggested that the two
beetles were nomads, possibly from an adjacent private
property where Ipomoea arborescens (Humb. & Bonpl.) Don.,
a confirmed host plant (Heron & Borowiec 1997), was
growing. The biology of this species was published in Muir &
Sharp (1904) and photographs of the imagines and immature
stages appeared in Wager (1981:134-135).
Genus Conchyloctenia Spaeth, 1902
An essentially African genus of 17 species (one occurs in Asia)
of which eight are known to occur in South Africa (Borowiec
1994, 1999; Swietojanska & Borowiec 2002).
Conchyloctenia punctata Fabricius, 1787 (Appendix 1h)
Host- plant: Convolvulaceae: Hewittia malambarica (L.)
Suresh (formerly H.sublobata (L.f.) O. Ktze) (Appendix
2xvi).
Comment: An abundant species although relatively scarce in
the reserve. The dominant form is the variably maculated var.
parummaculata. Rarely, the form luteicollis with entirely
black elytra is encountered. The species is notable for the
defensive cycloalexic clustering of its larvae (Heron 1992). Its
biology has been published by Paterson (1941:6-10) and by
Heron (1999:565-579).
Genus Laccoptera Boheman, 1855
An Afro-Asian genus of 12 sub-genera and 64 species of
which five sub-genera and 31 species occur on the African
mainland (Borowiec 1999:211-227). Ten species belonging to
four sub-genera have been reported from South Africa
(Borowiec 1994).
Sub-genus Laccoptera s. str.
Laccoptera excavata Boheman, 1855 (Appendix 1i)
Host-plants: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet,
Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy
(Appendix 2xvii-xix).
Comment: A large (11-12mm in length) shy species best seen
in the early morning or late afternoon when it feeds from the
upper surface of its host plant leaves. Its brown colour,
together with the pleated, rugose, elytra and pronotum, is
suggestive of a bird dropping. The biology of this species was
published in Muir & Sharp (1904).
Sub-genus Orphnodella Spaeth, 1902
Laccoptera cicatricosa Boheman, 1855 (Appendix 1j)
Host-plants: Convolvulaceae: Hewittia malambarica (L.)
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
Suresh (formerly H.sublobata (L.f.) O. Ktze), Ipomoea
ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy. The latter two
plants are infrequently used (Appendix 2xx,xxi).
Comment: Formerly known as L. abyssinica (Boheman,
1856), and published under that name in Borowiec (1994), this
brown to blackish-brown rugose species is secretive and most
readily found as solitary larvae with large faecal masses in
their supra-anal furcae. Shaw (1956:266) gave the species as L.
famula Spaeth but L. famula is now considered to be a junior
synonym for the northern form (parallel-sided body) of L.
ruginosa Boheman, 1855, (Borowiec, 1994:185). A paper
dealing with its biology is in press (Heron).
Tribe CASSIDINI Gyllenhal, 1813
Genus Acrocassis Spaeth, 1922
An African genus of eight species, one of which has been
reported from South Africa (Borowiec 2002:27).
Sub-genus Acrocassis s. str.
Acrocassis gibbipennis Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1k)
Host-plant: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl
(Appendix 2xxii).
Comment: A secretive species, with a conical post-scutellar
tubercle, which is very rare in the reserve: only a single imago
has been recorded thus far. Ipomoea obscura is a new host
plant for the species.
Genus Aethiopocassis Spaeth, 1922
An African genus consisting of 32 species, two of which occur
in South Africa.
Aethiopocassis vigintimaculata Thunberg, 1789
(Appendix 1l)
Host-plant: Acanthaceae: Thunbergia dregeana Nees.
(Appendix 2xxiii a,b).
Comment: A common yellowish species (preserved
specimens darken to a reddish-brown colour) with black
maculae, seldom found away from the host plant. The larvae,
usually seen on the upper leaf surfaces during the early instars,
are of a conspicuous yellow colour with black lateral spines,
and are partially obscured by a shaggy filamentous faecal
shield in their supra-anal furcae.
33
Genus Cassida Linnaeus, 1758
This is a large cosmopolitan genus which is the most numerous
within the Cassidinae: 400 species have been described thus far
(Borowiec 2003:121). Some 34 species are currently known
from South Africa (Borowiec 1999:234-296, Swietojanska
2001:153-184). At least two new South African species will
shortly be published (Heron & Borowiec 1997:636).
Cassida dorsovittata Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1n)
Host-plant: Amaranthaceae. Species not recorded but possibly
Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss.
Comment: A common green species with a whitish dorsal
patch, but very rare in the reserve, having only been recorded
on one occasion. The possibility exists that the identification
was erroneous and the record may represent Cassida
viridipennis ab. Togata Spaeth.
Cassida coagulata Boheman, 1854
Host Plant: Amaranthaceae: Achyranthus apsera L. var.
pubescens (Moq.) Towns.
Comment: Rare in the reserve. The larvae are distinctive with a
glutinous to liquid faecal-exuvial mass in the supra-anal furca.
Cassida guttipennis Boheman, 1862 (Appendix 1o,p,q)
Host-plant: Asteraceae: Berkheya bipinnatifida (Harv.)
(Appendix 2xxv).
Comment: Its rarity in the reserve is linked to the paucity of its
host plant. The nominotypical brownish-orange form is
present as well as the aberrations romula Spaeth, 1911, and
fenestralis Spaeth, 1933. The variety romula is dominant in the
North Park population.
Cassida innotata Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1r,s)
Host-plant: Amaranthaceae: Achyranthes aspera L. var
pubescens (Moq.) Towns. (Appendix 2xxvi,xxvii).
Comment: An uncommon brown beetle whose scarcity in the
reserve is linked to the limited occurrence of the glabrous
pubescens form of the host plant, Achyranthes aspera. The
larvae create distinctive clusters of small scrapings in the
undersurfaces of the host plant leaves during the early instars
(Appendix 2xxvii).
A small genus of five species, all of which are unique to South
Africa (Borowiec, 2002:58-59). One species, Basipta stolida,
was also recorded from Namibia but this was probably an
introduced specimen (Borowiec 2002:75).
Cassida irregularis Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1t)
Host-plants: Acanthaceae: Isoglossa ciliata (Nees.) Lindau,
Isoglossa woodii C.B. Cl. (Appendix 2xxviii,xxix).
Comment: A common but retiring greyish species, with submetallic silvery markings, whose presence is readily betrayed
by the feeding patterns in the leaves. The larvae are solitary and
rarely encountered. This species is endemic to South Africa
(Borowiec 1999:259).
Basipta stolida Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1m)
Host-plant: Asteraceae: Brachylaena discolor DC.
(Appendix 2xxiv a,b)
Comment: A large sub-metallic green pubescent species
which was incorrectly identified as Basipta glauca (Chevrolat
1849 in Heron & Borowiec 1997): see Borowiec (1999:234)
and in Shaw (1956:266). Preserved specimens become
brownish and lose their sub-metallic colouring. It is a common
beetle; frequently found sharing its host plant with Cassida
unimaculata. Its biology was published in Muir & Sharp
(1904).
Cassida unimaculata Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1u)
Host-plant: Asteraceae: Brachylaena discolor DC. (Appendix
2xxx).
Comment: A common small species of a metallic goldenyellow colour with pinkish iridescence, which is endemic to
South Africa (Borowiec 1999:290). Its presence is readily
betrayed by the distinctive narrow vermiform scrapings left by
the imagines on the upper leaf surfaces. The colouring is
structural and preserved specimens assume a dull yellowbrown colour. Its biology was published in Muir & Sharp
(1904).
Genus Basipta Chevrolat, 1849
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
Table 1. Host plants of Cassid s pecies in North Park
Nature Reserve.
Acanthaceae
Asystasia gangetica
Isoglossa ciliata
Isoglossa woodii
Thunbergia dregeana
Amaranthaceae
Achyranthes aspera
var. pubescens
var. sicula
Achyropsis avicularis
Cyathula cylindrica
Pupalia lappacea
Asteraceae
Berkheya bipinnatifida
Brachylaena discolor
Convolvulaceae
Hewittia malambarica
Ipomoea cairica
Ipomoea ficifolia
Ipomoea obscura
Ipomoea wightii
Rubiaceae
Canthium inerme
Cassida sp. nov (near C.
andreinii)
Cassida irregularis
Cassida irregularis
Aethiopocassis
vigintimaculata
Cassida innotata, C.
viridipennis, C. coagulata
Cassida viridipennis
Cassida viridipennis
Cassida viridipennis
Cassida dorsovittata (?), C.
viridipennis
Cassida guttipennis
Basipta stolida, Cassida
unimaculata
Aspidimorpha icterica,
Conchyloctenia punctata,
Laccoptera cicatricosa
Aspidimorpha icterica, A.
submutata, A. areata, A.
confinis, Laccoptera
excavata.
Note: outside the Reserve the
following species have also
been observed to use this
plant:
Conchyloctenia punctata,
Laccoptera cicatricosa.
A. spidimorpha icterica, A.
submutata, A. confinis, A.
puncticosta , Laccoptera
excavata, L. cicatricosa
Aspidimorpha submutata,
A. confinis, Acrocassis
gibbipennis, Chiridopsis
suffriani
Aspidimorpha icterica, A.
submutata, A. confinis,
Laccoptera excavata,L.
cicatricosa
Notosacantha laticollis
Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1v)
Host-plants: Amaranthaceae: Achyropsis avicularis (E. Mey.
& Moq.) Hook f., Achyranthes aspera L. varieties pubescens
(Moq.) Towns. and sicula L., Cyathula cylindrica Moq.,
Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss. (Appendix 2xxxi-xxxiv).
Comment: An abundant small green species whose larvae are
commonly observed on the upper leaf surfaces with their
supra-anal furcae, hosting only cast exuviae, held aloft. C.
viridipennis belongs to a group of at least ten very closely
34
related species (Borowiec pers. comm.). These will be fully
described and keyed in Volume 4 of his Monograph. This
species exhibits a marked preference for the hirsute-leafed
sicula form of Achyranthes aspera.
Cassida sp. nov. (near C. andreinii Spaeth, 1933)
(Appendix 1w)
Host-plant: Acanthaceae: Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.
Anders. (Appendix 2xxxv).
Comment: A cryptically patterned species usually found in the
growing tips of the host plant. It will be fully described,
together with its biology, in Volume 4 of Borowiec’s
“Monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae”.
Genus Chiridopsis Spaeth, 1922
An Afro-Asian genus of 58 species, 30 of which occur in
Africa. At least six are known from South Africa (Borowiec
1999:297-305).
Chiridopsis suffriani Boheman, 1854 (Appendix 1x)
Host-plant: Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl
(Appendix 2xxxvi).
Comment: Rare in the reserve. The beetle resembles the
Coccinellid species Cheilomenes lunata in its colour, pattern
and behaviour. Imagines frequently abandon the host creeper
when not feeding. This is the first occasion that a host plant has
been published for the species.
Acknowledgements
The support and encouragement given to the writer in his study
of South African cassidines by Dr Lech Borowiec of Wroclaw
University, Poland, who, together with Elizabeth Grobbelaar
of the Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, refereed
the paper, is gratefully acknowledged. Sincere thanks are also
extended to Mr A. Ngwenya of the Natal Herbarium, Durban,
for host-plant identifications, to Dr. Tanza Crouch of the
Durban Natural Science Museum for granting the writer
access to the Coleoptera collection, and to Andrew Carter for
preparing the photographs that accompany this paper.
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Appendix 1. Unless otherwise stated, all the beetles illustrated are present in the collection of the Durban Natural Science Museum,
Durban. Photographs kindly prepared by Andrew Carter.
a. - Notosacantha laticollis. 3.5x2.3mm. December 1903, Umhlali Beach, KwaZulu-Natal.
b. - Aspidimorpha icterica. 9.0x7.0mm. Specimen with both humeral and posterolateral patches. Collected 3 March1991 from Pigeon Valley,
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, by A. Heeras.
c. - Aspidimorpha icterica. 8.5x7.5mm. Specimen without posterolateral patches. Collected 17 February 1996 from Bluff Nature Reserve,
Durban, by A. Heeras.
d. - Aspidimorpha submutata. 8.0x7.2mm. Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, 6 November 1996 (H.D.C. Heron).
e. - Aspidimorpha areata. 6.2x4.1mm. No locality or date.
f. - Aspidimorpha confinis. 6.1`x5.1mm. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, October 1901. Note the large reticulated “honeycomb” structure to the elytra
and pronotum.
g. - Aspidimorpha puncticosta.13.6x10.5mm. Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, February 1997 (H.D.C. Heron). Host plant: Ipomoea
fistulosa.
h. - Conchyloctenia punctata var. parummaculata. 9.5x6.5mm. Malvern, KwaZulu-Natal, no date.
i. - Laccoptera excavata. 11.8x8.1mm. No locality or date.
j. - Laccoptera cicatricosa. 8.2x6.0mm. Malvern, KwaZulu-Natal, December 1897.
k. - Acrocassis gibbipennis. 5.8x4.1mm. Uitenhage, Eastern Cape Province, no date.
l. - Aethiopocassis vigintimaculata. 9.0x7.0mm. Bellair, Durban, 10 October 1943 (H.W. Bell-Marley).
m. - Basipta stolida. 11.5x9.0mm. Montclair, Durban, 11 February 1945 (H.W. Bell-Marley).
n. - Cassida dorsovittata. 4.1x3.0. Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal. Photo of living specimen collected from Amaranthus hybrida L. host
plant, December 2000.
o. - Cassida guttipennis. 5.0x4.0mm. Nominotypical form. Malvern, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, November 1898.
p. - Cassida guttipennis var. romula. 5.0x4.0mm. No locality or date.
q. - Cassida guttipennis var. fenestralis. 5.0x4.0mm. No locality or date.
r. - Cassida innotata. 5.0x3.5mm. Plain brown form. Isipingo, no date.
s. - Cassida innotata. 5.0x3.5mm. Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal. Photo of living specimen collected from Achyranthes aspera var.
pubescens, December 2000.
t. - Cassida irregularis. 5.0x4.0mm. Malvern, KwaZulu-Natal, 15 August 1902.
u. - Cassida unimaculata. 6.0x5.0mm. No locality or date.
v. - Cassida viridipennis. 4.5x3.8mm. Umbilo, Durban, 11 October 1920 (A.L. Bevis).
w. - Cassida sp. nov. (near C. andreinii). Circa 4.0x3.1mm. Photo of living specimen collected from Asystasia gangetica in the Umbilo valley,
Durban, 13 November 1996.
x. - Chiridopsis suffriani. 4.0x3.0mm. Raised in captivity from ovum deposited by imago collected from the Shongweni Resources Reserve,
Ntshongweni, Umlaas Valley, KwaZulu-Natal, February 1999 (H.D.C. Heron).
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
36
a. Notosacantha
laticollis
b. Aspidimorpha
icterica
c. Aspidimorpha
icterica
d. Aspidimorpha
submutata
e. Aspidimorpha
areata
f. Aspidimorpha
confinis
g. Aspidimorpha
puncticosta
h. Conchyloctenia
punctata
i. Laccoptera
excavata
j. Laccoptera
cicatricosa
k. Acrocassis
gibbipennis
l. Aethiopocassis
vigintimaculata
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
m. Basipta
stolida
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
n. Cassida
dorsovittata
37
o. Cassida
guttipennis
p. C. guttipennis
var. romula
q. C. guttipennis
var. fenestralis
r. Cassida
innotata
s. Cassida
innotata
t. Cassida
irregularis
u. Cassida
unimaculata
v. Cassida
viridipennis
w. Cassida
sp. nov.
x. Chiridopsis
suffriani
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
38
Appendix 2.
i - Notosacantha laticollis scrapings in upper surface of Canthium inerme leaf. The pattern is not diagnostic for the species: a small flattened spiny
Hispinid beetle has been observed to leave almost identical scrapings in the same host plant leaves. Leaf no: 626/3.
ii - Large irregularly oval holes, some penetrating the leaf margin, produced by Aspidimorpha icterica in Hewittia malambarica (formerly
H.sublobata) leaf. Larval and imaginal patterns may be readily confused but are distinguished from Conchyloctenia punctata (Appendix 2 xvi) by the
latter’s tendency to feed from the leaf margins on this plant. Leaf no: 679/90.
iii - Irregular Aspidimorpha icterica holes penetrating the leaf margins of Ipomoea cairica. The deeply lobed structure of the leaf may, on occasions,
create the impression that all the beetles making use of it are marginal feeders. Feeding from lower leaf surface. Leaf no: 1300/173. Collected from the
Village Green, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
iv - Marginal feeding of Aspidimorpha icterica in Ipomoea ficifolia leaf. Feeding from lower leaf surface. Leaf no: 713/309. See also Appendix 2
xxxvii .
v - Aspidimorpha icterica: marginal feeding and large irregular holes, some penetrating the leaf margin, in Ipomoea wightii leaf. Feeding from lower
leaf surface. The irregular vermiform scrapings towards the leaf base resemble the feeding patterns left by Aspidimorpha confinis but were produced by
a small, flattened, spiny Hispinid. Leaf no: 1339/177, collected from Kloof, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
vi - Oval holes of Aspidimorpha submutata in Ipomoea cairica leaf: feeding from lower leaf surface. This may be confused with the pattern left by
Aspidimorpha confinis but A. submutata generally has smaller, grouped, holes when compared with that species. Leaf no: 603/46.
vii - Rounded and coalesced holes of Aspidimorpha submutata in Ipomoea ficifolia leaf. Feeding from lower leaf surface. Leaf no:1523/110.
viii - Coalesced rounded holes of Aspidimorpha submutata in Ipomoea obscura leaf. This example is somewhat atypical of the species, which usually
produces discrete grouped holes. Feeding from lower leaf suface. Leaf no: 826/52.
ix - Scattered oval holes of Aspidimorpha submutata in Ipomoea wightii leaf. In thinner leaves, the pattern produced is very similar to that left by the
beetles in the leaves of Ipomoea ficifolia. Leaf no: 551/41.
x - Holes of Aspidimorpha areata in Ipomoea cairica leaf. The somewhat pyriform outline of the holes serves to distinguish the feeding pattern of this
species from the patterns produced by A. confinis and A. submutata on the same plant. Leaf no: 188/10, from Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal.
xi - Large oval holes of Aspidimorpha confinis in Ipomoea cairica leaf. Feeding takes place from the upper surface. The size and shape of the holes
serves to distinguish this species’ feeding patterns from those of A. areata and A. submutata. Leaf no: 606/31.
xii - Aspidimorpha confinis scrapings in upper leaf surface of Ipomoea ficifolia leaf, leaving the lower epidermal pubescence intact. Narrow elongated
to vermiform surface scrapings are typical of this species in pubescent leaves: normal holes are produced in glabrous leaves (compare with Appendix 2
xi and xiv). Leaf no: 926/67. See also Appendix 2 xxxvii.
xiii - Holes left by Aspidimorpha confinis in Ipomoea obscura leaf with feeding taking place from the upper leaf surface. The holes’ sizes may help to
distinguish them from the pattern left by A. submutata on the same plant but there might be some ambiguity. Leaf no: 1458/143.
xiv - Elongated surface scrapings in pubescent Ipomoea wightii leaf left by Aspidimorpha confinis. Leaf no: 447/22.
xv - Large highly irregular holes and marginal indentations produced by an immature imago of Aspidimorpha puncticosta in Ipomoea ficifolia leaf.
This is the only occasion that the beetle has been noted to make use of this plant and it is suggested that this feeding pattern was produced by a nomadic
beetle. It is most unlikely that Ipomoea ficifolia is a regular host plant. Leaf no: 338/8.
xvi - Irregular marginal indentations produced by Conchyloctenia punctata in Hewittia malambarica (formerly H. sublobata) leaf. Leaf no: 1341/76.
xvii - Very large oval holes left by Laccoptera excavata in Ipomoea cairica leaf. Feeding from upper leaf surface. Leaf no: 843/37.
xviii - Large oval holes produced by Laccoptera excavata in Ipomoea ficifolia leaf. Feeding from the upper surface, the lower epidermal pubescence is
commonly left intact. Leaf no: 1742/57.
xix - Wide vermiform scrapings of Laccoptera excavata produced in upper surface of Ipomoea wightii leaf, leaving the lower epidermal pubescence
intact. In thinner leaves, patterns similar to those produced in Ipomoea ficifolia leaves (Appendix 2 xviii) are encountered. Leaf no:241/10.
xx - Large oval holes left by Laccoptera cicatricosa in Hewittia malambarica (formerly H. sublobata) leaf. Leaf no: 443/28. (Collected from Escombe,
Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal).
xxi - Vermiform scrapings of Laccoptera cicatricosa in upper surface of Ipomoea wightii leaf. The scrapings are readily distinguished from those of
Aspidimorpha confinis by their size. This is not a preferred host plant and hirsute leaves such as these are seldom used when host plants with glabrous
leaves are readily available. Leaf no:1329/140.
xxii - Clustered holes of Acrocassis gibbipennis in Ipomoea obscura leaf. The clustering typically occurs towards a leaf margin.This is the first record
of Ipomoea obscura being used as a host plant by this beetle. Leaf no:1731/63.
xxiii - Large marginal indentations made by Aethiopocassis vigintimaculata in leaves of Thunbergia dregeana. Leaf nos: 158/7 and 303/15.
xxiv - Elongated scrapings of Basipta stolida in upper surface of Brachylaena discolor leaf. Leaf no: 1846/40. Not uncommonly, the terminal portion
of the plant shoot may be curled and discoloured as illustrated in leaf no: 1848/42.
xxv - Rounded, clustered, holes produced by Cassida guttipennis in Berkheya bipinnatifida leaf, as seen from the underside of the leaf. When feeding
from the lower leaf surface, the imagines roll back the lower epidermal pubescence. Leaf no: 1636/29.
xxvi - Oval holes of Cassida innotata crowding leaf of Achyranthes aspera var pubescens during intensive feeding phase. Imagines feed from lower
leaf surface. Leaf no: 2058/47.
xxvii - Globular cluster of small scrapings in underside of Achyranthes aspera var pubescens leaf produced by larvae of Cassida innotata during instars
1 to 3. Leaf no: 2067/48.
xxviii - Rounded to oval holes of Cassida irregularis produced in apical leaves of Isoglossa ciliaris. Feeding from lower leaf surface. Leaf no:
1637/60.
xxix - Oval holes produced by Cassida irregularis in Isoglossa woodii leaf. In the season following the mass flowering and dying off of these plants,
young seedlings, and adjacent stands of I. ciliaris, may suffer extensive leaf damage. Leaf no: 520/31.
xxx - Narrow vermiform scrapings of Cassida unimaculata in upper surface of Brachylaena discolor leaf. The beetles are generally found on the lower
leaf surface by day but come up to feed in the late afternoon or early morning. Leaf no: 2002/44.
xxxi - Oval holes, some coalesced, of Cassida viridipennis produced in pubescent leaves of Achyranthes aspera var. sicula. Leaf no: 405/20.
xxxii - Marginal feeding produced by Cassida viridipennis in narrow leaflets of Achyropsis avicularis. Leaf no: 659/32, collected from Escombe,
Queensburgh.
xxxiii - Oval holes of Cassida viridipennis in leaf of Cyathula cylindrica. Feeding from lower leasf surface. Leaf no: 428/21.
xxxiv - Holes of Cassida viridipennis in leaf of Pupalia lappacea. Feeding from lower leaf surface. Leaf no: 704/37.
xxxv - Vermiform scrapings produced by Cassida sp.nov. (near C. andreinii) in leaf of Asystasia gangetica. Crowded scrapings, such as in this
example, are typical of the intensive feeding phase during the first 10-14 days following eclosion. Feeding from upper leaf surface. Leaf no: 1201/34.
xxxvi - Rounded to oval holes of Chiridopsis suffriani in Ipomoea obscura leaf. Beetles frequently abandon the host creeper when not feeding. Feeding
from lower leaf surface. This is the first occasion that a host plant has been published for the species. Leaf no: 1724/34.
xxxvii - Reduced inter-species competition evidenced by separate trophic niches in Ipomoea ficifolia leaf: marginal feeding of Aspidimorpha icterica
from lower leaf surface, and surface vermiform scrapings of Aspidimorpha confinis. Several different cassid species are known to use this plant in
coastal KwaZulu-Natal and a study to determine how the beetles are adapted to reduce inter-species competition on the same host plant would be of
interest. A paper on this theme, involving two Indian species, was published by Verma and Shrivastava (1985 : 437-466). Leaf no: 1741/159.
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
39
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
40
ix.
vii.
viii.
x.
xii.
xi.
xiv.
xiii.
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
xv.
xvi.
xvii.
xviii.
xix.
41
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
42
xxi.
xx.
xxii.
a.
xxiii.
xxiv.
a.
b.
b.
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
xxv.
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
43
xxvi.
xxvii.
xxviii.
xxix.
DURBAN MUS. NOVIT. 28
xxx.
TORTOISE BEETLES (CASSIDINAE) FROM DURBAN
xxxi.
xxxii.
xxxiii.
xxxiv.
xxxv.
xxxvii.
xxxvi.
44