Papers by Caroline Chaboo
Insect Mundi, 2022
The tortoise beetle, Cassida sphaerula Boheman, 1854 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cass... more The tortoise beetle, Cassida sphaerula Boheman, 1854 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini) is endemic to South Africa. Its endemic host, Arctotheca prostrata (Salisb.) Britten (Asteraceae) has
been introduced in other countries where it is becoming invasive. Cassida sphaerula could provide a potential biocontrol of Arctotheca weeds as it spends the entire life cycle on this host. An intensive field study, with
rearing, photography, and short films of C. sphaerula was conducted in its native habitat to document the life cycle. A checklist of Cassidinae genera in South Africa, along with 19 new host records for Cassidini species
in South Africa are presented. Oothecae are simple, with few laminate membranes enclosing fewer than five eggs. There are five larval instars. Larvae and adults feed by making a series of cuts in the ventral cuticle,
forming an arc, and they consume the mesophyll as the cuticle is rolled to one side. This creates many ventral craters, thickened on one margin with the rolled cuticle; these ventral craters correspond to ‘windows’ in the
dorsal leaf surface where the dorsal cuticle is left intact. This unusual feeding pattern is known in three Cassida species, all in South Africa. Like many tortoise beetles, instar I initiates a feces-only shield on its paired
caudal processes (= urogomophi); this construction is retained, along with exuviae, by subsequent instars. The shield construction was studied by film and dissections. This revealed that the columnar or pyramidal
shield in this species has an exterior of dry or moist feces that obscures the central nested stack of exuviae, each exuviae compressed onto the caudal processes. Pupae may retain the entire larval shield of exuviae and
feces or only the 5th instar exuviae; this behavioral flexibility in pupal shield retention is novel for tortoise beetles. Behaviors of C. sphaerula are discussed in the context of phylogenetic characters that can give evolutionary insights into the genus, tribe, and subfamily.
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Flowers, R. Wills, Chaboo, Caroline S. (2015): Natural history of the tortoise beetle, Discomorph... more Flowers, R. Wills, Chaboo, Caroline S. (2015): Natural history of the tortoise beetle, Discomorpha (Discomorpha) biplagiata (Guérin) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini). Insecta Mundi 2015 (439): 1-10, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5182476
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Revista Peruana de Biología, 2022
This note reports Paraguay as a new country record for Cistudinella inanis (Boheman, 1854) based ... more This note reports Paraguay as a new country record for Cistudinella inanis (Boheman, 1854) based on one adult specimen, that is currently deposited in the Larry Bezark collection which eventually reside in the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA.
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Flowers, Wills, Chaboo, Caroline S. (2009): Novel host records of some cassidine leaf beetles fro... more Flowers, Wills, Chaboo, Caroline S. (2009): Novel host records of some cassidine leaf beetles from Ecuador (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Insecta Mundi 2009 (95): 1-8, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5167803
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Journal of Natural History, 2020
ABSTRACT Phytotelmata are temporary pools of rainwater impounded on plants. These pools provide a... more ABSTRACT Phytotelmata are temporary pools of rainwater impounded on plants. These pools provide aquatic habitats in which immature stages of insects live. Zingiberales plants can have two types of phytotelmata, the bract pool on the inflorescence and the tubes formed as young leaves unroll. The Diptera fauna of these habitats are poorly known. This study reports on a systematic inventory of invertebrate communities from Zingiberales in Costa Rica and Peru. Collections of invertebrates were extracted from 251 phytotelmata representing six species of Zingiberales – Heliconiaceae: Heliconia robusta Pax, Heliconia stricta Huber, and Heliconia tortuosa Griggs; Marantaceae: Calathea lutea Schult; and Zingiberaceae: Alpinia purpurata (Vieillard) K. Schumann and Renealmia spp. Aquatic Diptera (620 larvae and pupae) were found in 34 samples (32 bract pools and 2 leaf rolls). These Diptera were extracted, sorted and identified to 22 morpho species in 5 families of aquatic ‘Nematocera’, two families of aquatic Brachycera, and one group of undetermined aquatic Brachycera families. Chironomidae (159 individuals, 3 species) were the numerically dominant family, then Syrphidae (141 individuals, 3 species), and Psychodidae (81 individuals, 2 species). The Peru phytotelmata contained more species of Diptera than the Costa Rica phytotelmata. Altogether, four new host associations are documented between aquatic Diptera and Zingiberales phytotelmata habitats in Costa Rica and 14 such records in Peru. Results of a cluster analysis indicate that communities of aquatic Diptera varied between sampling sites and within and between plants. Phytotelmata add to habitat heterogeneity and are likely to increase diversity of aquatic Diptera and other taxa; therefore, phytotelmata should be included in assessments of aquatic Diptera.
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The Coleopterists Bulletin, 2021
BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.
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The Coleopterists Bulletin, 2021
BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.
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Journal of Natural History, 2020
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Zootaxa, 2021
Pupal morphology has been described for 11 species in six genera of the Neotropical tortoise beet... more Pupal morphology has been described for 11 species in six genera of the Neotropical tortoise beetle tribe, Ischyrosonychini Chapuis, 1875. This life stage may offer valuable phylogenetic information but more pupae need to be documented. The pupae of Physonota humilis Boheman, 1856 and P. stigmatilis Boheman, 1854 are described and illustrated for the first time. The pupa of P. humilis does not exhibit lateral scoli on the abdominal segments. Additionally, the body surfaces of P. humilis and P. stigmatilis are somewhat tuberculate, different from other described Physonota Boheman, 1854 pupae. A key to the described pupae of Physonota is provided and 10 phylogenetic character hypotheses are proposed.
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The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 2020
A new host plant family for Cassidinae sensu lato: Calyptocephala attenuata (Spaeth, 1919) (Coleo... more A new host plant family for Cassidinae sensu lato: Calyptocephala attenuata (Spaeth, 1919) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Spilophorini) on Smilax (Smilacaceae) in Costa Rica
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Journal of Natural History, 2019
ABSTRACT Nectaries are structures that secrete a sugary solution and can occur on vegetative and/... more ABSTRACT Nectaries are structures that secrete a sugary solution and can occur on vegetative and/or reproductive parts of plants. The significance of floral nectaries to reward vertebrate and arthropod pollinators is well supported. The role of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) is more ambiguous, though research has been skewed to the ant-plant mutualism. Many other insects feed at EFNs, but these interactions are vastly understudied. This study addresses the hypothesis that EFNs may influence the occurrence and structure of Neotropical canopy beetle communities. Seven canopy trees (four families) exhibiting EFNs and their associated beetles were studied over a one-year period in southern Venezuela. In total, 6818 adult beetles identified to 868 species were recorded on 25 investigated canopy tree species (#47 individuals). Of the 868 beetle species, 150 species (517 individuals; 17.3% species) from 20 families were observed drinking from foliar EFNs on seven EFN-bearing tree species. Dietary dependence on EF nectar varied, with 95 beetle species utilising this nectar within a broader diet and 55 species found feeding exclusively on EFNs. This study demonstrates unequivocally that EF nectar is a frequently utilised food resource of many beetle adults and beetles have been a significantly underestimated visitor group. A more detailed study was conducted on six individual canopy trees of two species of Chrysobalanaceae, Licania hebantha Mart. ex Hook. f. and Moquilea subarachnophylla (Cuatrec.) Sothers and Prance. In total, 115 individual adults of 64 beetle species were collected on nectar secreted on newly-sprouted leaves. These beetle assemblages were dominated by species utilising EF nectar and were associated with distinct phenological phases of the host trees. Altogether, the beetle survey found support for the hypothesis that EFNs influence the occurrence and structure of beetle communities. These beetle-EFN relationships have implications for spatial arrangement, community assembly and evolution of both host plants and beetles. Like ant-EFN mutualism, EFN-bearing trees and beetles may also form mutualism. It is possible that the plants offer easier access to a nutritious resource that may deflect herbivory of vegetative parts.
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Journal of Natural History, 2018
ABSTRACT Embedded within the interdisciplinary research project ‘Towards an understanding of the ... more ABSTRACT Embedded within the interdisciplinary research project ‘Towards an understanding of the structure and function of a Neotropical rainforest ecosystem with special reference to its canopy’ organised by the Austrian Academy of Science, the canopy beetle fauna was surveyed by means of a 42 m tall tower crane. This paper presents results of the chrysomelid beetle fauna observed and collected at canopy trees for 1 year. A total of 1783 adult leaf beetles were collected, representing 117 morphospecies (Bruchinae are not included) including 31 singletons. The most abundant family was Galerucinae sensu stricto with 827 individuals (46% of collection). The most speciose subfamilies were Galerucinae sensu stricto followed by Alticini, Cryptocephalinae and Eumolpinae. Nineteen species collected with at least two individuals were restricted to a single tree species whereas 68 species were found to feed on several canopy host trees. Only a few species fed on leaves; these were in Cassidinae, Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae and Galerucinae. Strikingly, most canopy chrysomelids were collected at flowers of canopy trees, although some species fed also on extrafloral nectaries or fruits. Alticini were restricted predominantly to flowers, but Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae and Galerucinae revealed broader plasticity in host tissue selection. Insights into beetle seasonality, diurnal/nocturnal activity and intra-canopy migration are provided. Abundant flower-visiting species occurred on their host trees commonly over the entire flowering season, with their abundances often correlated with the number of open flowers. After termination of one tree’s flowering season, many flower-visiting leaf beetles moved to other flowering trees. Certain congeneric species of Galerucinae and Eumolpinae occurred together at their host plants within the same periods.
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Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 2016
Abstract. Lack of syntheses of knowledge on immature stages of insects impedes accurate understan... more Abstract. Lack of syntheses of knowledge on immature stages of insects impedes accurate understanding of their diversity, biology and evolution. Literature describing known immature stages of case-bearing chrysomelids is catalogued, i.e., 358 species of Cryptocephalinae Gyllenhal and 13 species of Lamprosomatinae Lacordaire. The catalogue covers the world fauna including fossils, and reviews information on eggs, larvae, pupae, host plants, distribution, host ants (for myrmecophiles), and parasitoids and predators. This synthesis should stimulate efforts to discover and study immatures, and generate new hypotheses about the evolution in these two sister clades of leaf beetles.
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ZooKeys, 2016
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Revista peruana de biología, 2018
Marcos. Este es un artículo de acceso abierto, distribuido bajo los términos de la Licencia Creat... more Marcos. Este es un artículo de acceso abierto, distribuido bajo los términos de la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), que permite el uso no comercial, distribución y reproducción en cualquier medio, siempre que la obra original sea debidamente citadas. Para uso comercial, por favor póngase en contacto con
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Revista peruana de biología, 2016
Primer registro de la familia de escarabajos Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), una nueva especie ... more Primer registro de la familia de escarabajos Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), una nueva especie de Aulonothroscus Horn y tres nuevos registros de especies para la fauna de Perú
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Zoological Studies, 2009
The leaf-roll construction by the Asian rice leptispa beetle Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Cassidinae: L... more The leaf-roll construction by the Asian rice leptispa beetle Leptispa pygmaea Baly (Cassidinae: Leptispini) was studied. Consistent adult feeding on the adaxial side of tender rice leaves Oryza sativa Linnaeus (Poaceae) induces partial upward rolling of the leaf lamina. Adult leaf rolls are ephemeral and not apparent, and they unfurl once the beetle leaves the leaf. Females oviposit clutches of up to 8 eggs mostly on the adaxial side of the leaf within such rolls. Neonate larvae migrate to the base of the leaf axil and feed by scraping, which induces formation of leaf rolls from the base where the leaf is already curled up. All 5 larval instars feed in this manner, migrating to new leaves and forming new leaf rolls. Pupation occurs within the leaf roll of the 5th instar. Adult leaf rolls are partial and ephemeral, and therefore offer only limited protection to eggs and adults. In contrast, larval leaf rolls are well formed and cohesive compared to those of adults. This is probably d...
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The first natural history account of Discomorpha (Discomorpha) biplagiata (Guerin) (Chrysomelidae... more The first natural history account of Discomorpha (Discomorpha) biplagiata (Guerin) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini) from Ecuador is presented. Larvae and adults feed on the leaves and stems of Cordia hebeclada Johnst. (Boraginaceae), the fi rst documented host plant for the species. Oviposition and pupation also occur on this host. Young larvae suffered heavy predation, especially from Ectatomma sp. (Formicidae: Ponerinae) and Oplomus nr. marginalis (Pentatomidae: Asopinae).
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espanolSe citan cuatro especies de Nosodendron Latreille, 1804, de Peru, dos de ellas por primera... more espanolSe citan cuatro especies de Nosodendron Latreille, 1804, de Peru, dos de ellas por primera vez: Nosodendron angelum Reichardt, 1973 y Nosodendron latifrons Sharp, 1902. Se presenta una clave para las cinco especies conocidas de Peru. EnglishFour species of Nosodendron Latreille, 1804 are recorded from Peru, two of them for the first time: Nosodendron angelum Reichardt, 1973 and Nosodendron latifrons Sharp, 1902. A key to the five species known from Peru is presented.
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Novel host records and feeding behaviors are reported for five species in three genera of two cas... more Novel host records and feeding behaviors are reported for five species in three genera of two cassidine beetle tribes, Hemisphaerotini and Imatidiini, from Ecuador. Carludovica Ruiz and Pav. (Cyclanthaceae) is reported as a new plant family and genus host for two species of Spaethiella Barber and Bridwell. Calathea G. Mey (Marantaceae) is reported as the first host record for Aslamidium capense (Herbst) and Calathea lutea Schult. and Calathea majestica (Linden) H. Kenn. are reported as the first host records for Aslamidium semicirculare (Olivier). Immature stages of Demotispa elaeicola (Aslam) are reported for the first time; larvae are external folivores and both larvae and pupae are solitary and lack exuvio-fecal shields. The adults and larvae of D. elaeicola feed by rasping palm fruits, a rare feeding pattern in Cassidinae.
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Papers by Caroline Chaboo
been introduced in other countries where it is becoming invasive. Cassida sphaerula could provide a potential biocontrol of Arctotheca weeds as it spends the entire life cycle on this host. An intensive field study, with
rearing, photography, and short films of C. sphaerula was conducted in its native habitat to document the life cycle. A checklist of Cassidinae genera in South Africa, along with 19 new host records for Cassidini species
in South Africa are presented. Oothecae are simple, with few laminate membranes enclosing fewer than five eggs. There are five larval instars. Larvae and adults feed by making a series of cuts in the ventral cuticle,
forming an arc, and they consume the mesophyll as the cuticle is rolled to one side. This creates many ventral craters, thickened on one margin with the rolled cuticle; these ventral craters correspond to ‘windows’ in the
dorsal leaf surface where the dorsal cuticle is left intact. This unusual feeding pattern is known in three Cassida species, all in South Africa. Like many tortoise beetles, instar I initiates a feces-only shield on its paired
caudal processes (= urogomophi); this construction is retained, along with exuviae, by subsequent instars. The shield construction was studied by film and dissections. This revealed that the columnar or pyramidal
shield in this species has an exterior of dry or moist feces that obscures the central nested stack of exuviae, each exuviae compressed onto the caudal processes. Pupae may retain the entire larval shield of exuviae and
feces or only the 5th instar exuviae; this behavioral flexibility in pupal shield retention is novel for tortoise beetles. Behaviors of C. sphaerula are discussed in the context of phylogenetic characters that can give evolutionary insights into the genus, tribe, and subfamily.
been introduced in other countries where it is becoming invasive. Cassida sphaerula could provide a potential biocontrol of Arctotheca weeds as it spends the entire life cycle on this host. An intensive field study, with
rearing, photography, and short films of C. sphaerula was conducted in its native habitat to document the life cycle. A checklist of Cassidinae genera in South Africa, along with 19 new host records for Cassidini species
in South Africa are presented. Oothecae are simple, with few laminate membranes enclosing fewer than five eggs. There are five larval instars. Larvae and adults feed by making a series of cuts in the ventral cuticle,
forming an arc, and they consume the mesophyll as the cuticle is rolled to one side. This creates many ventral craters, thickened on one margin with the rolled cuticle; these ventral craters correspond to ‘windows’ in the
dorsal leaf surface where the dorsal cuticle is left intact. This unusual feeding pattern is known in three Cassida species, all in South Africa. Like many tortoise beetles, instar I initiates a feces-only shield on its paired
caudal processes (= urogomophi); this construction is retained, along with exuviae, by subsequent instars. The shield construction was studied by film and dissections. This revealed that the columnar or pyramidal
shield in this species has an exterior of dry or moist feces that obscures the central nested stack of exuviae, each exuviae compressed onto the caudal processes. Pupae may retain the entire larval shield of exuviae and
feces or only the 5th instar exuviae; this behavioral flexibility in pupal shield retention is novel for tortoise beetles. Behaviors of C. sphaerula are discussed in the context of phylogenetic characters that can give evolutionary insights into the genus, tribe, and subfamily.