Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus

5 A case-bearing leaf beetle at Molonglo Valley, ACT

Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 2 Dec 2021
Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 2 Dec 2021
Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 2 Dec 2021
Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 2 Dec 2021
Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 2 Dec 2021
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Identification history

Cadmus (Lachnabothra) subgenus 24 Sep 2022 MichaelMulvaney
Cadmus (Lachnabothra) sp. 23 Sep 2022 KimberiRP
Cryptocephalinae (sub-family) 19 Feb 2022 AlisonMilton
Cryptocephalinae (sub-family) 4 Dec 2021 CathB

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User's notes

Two beetles that hatched on consecutive days from cases collected from a Cassinia on 30 Oct (sighting 4408335) and an Exocarpos on 1 Nov, both in Aranda Bushland. One was slightly more, the other slightly less, than 5 mm. Possibly a male and a female of the same species?

8 comments

RogerF wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
Have you seen any larvae yet on these host plants
CathB wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
Hi Roger. I have only ever seen active larvae on the ground, but I’ve noticed the cases on all sorts of plants, often grasses. I had assumed that the larvae feed in the leaf litter and then crawl up any convenient plant to pupate, but I will have to look more closely to see if they are feeding on the plants.
RogerF wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
Yes, I have only seen the larvae in the litter, postively heaving wth them on one occasion in Tallaganda. Probably any plant will do for pupation, possibly to escape predators.

I wondedr if Kim can identify this adult.
CathB wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
Beetles that hatched from similar cases were identified as Cadmus (Brachycaulus) ferrugineus. See sightings 4415802 and 4416390
RogerF wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
The Cadmus from Tallaganda was probably aurantiacus.
RogerF wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
I learnt a new word for these case bearers "camptosomate". Caroline Chaboo seems to be the expert on them.
RogerF wrote:
   18 Sep 2022
There are over 500 species of Cryptos in Australia, all case bearers. My colleague Chris Reid from the Australian Museum is the expert on Australian species. Would you like me to send him your image.
KimberiRP wrote:
   23 Sep 2022
Both beetles in the images are males. The females are significantly larger, more robust and with shorter antennae.

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  • Cassinia longifolia and Exocarpos cupressiformis Associated plant
  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

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