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Neochlamisus sp.
Leaf beetles of the genus Neochlamisus are sometimes known as the warty leaf beetles. They are members of the case-bearing leaf beetle group, the Camptosomata. Measuring 3-4 millimeters in length as adults, they arecryptic, superficially resembling caterpillar frass. The warty leaf beetle’s eggs hatch underneath a fecal blanket which their mother has provided for them and then the larvae proceed to use their own waste to further develop a case which they continue to add to as they grow. You may think that this practice is unpleasant; however, this casing serves a very important function. Warty leaf beetles are able to avoid observation and detection from predators due to the fact that their specialized casing resembles caterpillar frass (caterpillar poop). Warty leaf beetle species are typically very host plant-specific and most species primarily use only a small group of related plant species or even a single species to feed and live on.
Urban garden on Murraya paniculata plant.
Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Cryptocephalinae, Tribe Chlamisini
Spotted on Jan 22, 2015
Submitted on Jan 22, 2015
19 Comments
Congrats Leana. We have similar in Australia here http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
No, nominated means it is voted on. Of all the spottings nominated, one spotting with the most votes wins. This is what won this week and is the sotw, http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/114...
Yes nominated, so it has it.
Ok. Thanks Ashley!
This was a nomination for SOTW (spotting of the week), but another spotting won it for this week.
What does SOTW mean?
WoooWWWW!!!!! SOTW!!! (Dapat lang)...As what it should be. Congratulations Ate Leana.
Well deserved SOTW congrats.
Thank you for the appreciation and for the honor of being nominated Spotting of the Week!
Very nice - would be so easy to overlook it as a piece of dirt!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
A tiny fellow with a very massive personality and a confident look. Looks like a charging bull.
♥ ♥ ♥
Thank you Shekai! The "armor" or casing serves a very important function to avoid observation and detection from predators due to the fact that their specialized casing resembles caterpillar frass.
Thank you for the ID Leuba!
What an armor.
Looks like "Warty Leaf Beetle" - Cryptocephalinae. Check Neochlamisus species from your area/SE Asia.
Just Brilliant ! It's good you've got the shot with the antennae out.
Weirdest little beetle ever.