Tortoise Beetles (Cassidinae: Chrysomelidae): Their diversity, abundance & host preference in the forests of Dooars, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Tortoise beetle with more than 6000 species compose the second most diverse subfamily Cassidinae of family Chrysomelidae that resemble a tortoise because of the forward and sideways extensions of the body. Many Cassidoids are plant-genus or -family specific in their food choice, and many have become agricultural pests, while others are remnant-dependent species found only on rare occasions. The diversity of such beetles in an area or region should be related to the diversity of its plant community. To better understand, appreciate, document and conserve the fauna, an inventory of the leaf beetles was initiated through various projects during 1992-2009. Present study is an attempt to assess the faunal diversity of tortoise beetles of forests of Dooars, West Bengal. A total of 23 species under 7 genera distributed over 2 tribes under subfamily Cassidinae are recorded so far from the study area. These include Aspidomorpha orientalis Boheman, Cassida stupa Maulik and Cassida subtilis Weise endemic to India, Basiprionata maculipennis (Boheman), Cassida horni Weise, Cassida subtilis Weise, Cassida timefacta Boheman and Laccoptera nr. discreta Boheman recorded first time from the state, 73.91% of the reported species new for the district. Genus Aspidomorpha has maximum number of species followed by Cassida. Analysis of their zoogeographical distribution reveals that the fauna apart from being Oriental (100%) also includes Palaearctic (39.13%), Nearctic and Australian (4.35% each) elements. Buxa Tiger Reserve is highest in species richness and abundance. Most of the species and individuals are encountered during premonsoon (February to May) period. It appears that plants of Convolvulaceae are the most preferred choice of the cassidines within the reserve. It is to be noted that the modes of feeding of tortoise beetles and the corresponding damage patterns are quite diverse and in many cases species specific. Further studies of these aspects, together with obtaining new data on their food plants, will be essential both for taxonomy and phylogeny of these beetles and for identification of agricultural and forest pests.

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WSN 182 (2023) 115-132

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