Cassida
Genus of beetles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Cassida | |
|---|---|
| |
| C. nebulosa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Subfamily: | Cassidinae |
| Tribe: | Cassidini |
| Genus: | Cassida Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Cassida nebulosa | |
| Diversity | |
| at least 430 species | |
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]
