Biology:Epistictina reicheana

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of beetle

Epistictina reicheana
Tortoisebeetle nagerhole.jpg
Epistictina reicheana.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Epistictina
Species:
E. reicheana
Binomial name
Epistictina reicheana
Guérin-Méneville 1844

Epistictina reicheana, is a species of leaf beetle found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tasmania.[1][2]

Description

It is a medium-sized beetle. Body oval. Elytra dark reddish in color with many dark patches. Larva dark brown in color with a distinct pattern. Final instar grub is about 10 to 11 mm in length. Head and legs are much darker. Body covered with setae. Pupa is about 8.3 mm long. Pupa without urogomphi or apical processes. Sixth and seventh abdominal segments are also absent.[3]

Biology

The host plant is Stereospermum tetragonum. Adult female lays eggs on the upper surface of the leaf which are deposited in egg masses or within ootheca. Ootheca is made of brownish translucent material, but appears yellowish. After hatching, first instar grub starts to scrape the upper surface of the leaf. Second to the fifth instar grubs are voracious predators which cut net-like holes in the leaf surface. Larva generally carry fecal threads which are attached to supra anal spines. These threads are useful during pupation.[3]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q108668741 entry