2023-09-15 11:00:05
In the insect world, survival often depends on ingenuity. Turtle beetle larvae (or cassids), belonging to the subfamily Cassidinae, have developed an unorthodox method of defense: they construct shields from their own excrement and their exoskeleton (an exoskeleton or external skeleton, for example). opposition to endoskeleton, is a…) mutated.
The turtle beetle larva uses its telescopic anus to construct a shield from its skin. is an organ composed of several layers of tissue. It plays, among other things, the…) moulting and its own feces.
Credit image: Caroline Simmrita Chaboo/Sally Adam/Kenji Nishida/Luke Schletzbaum
Although many insects build shelters, turtle beetle larvae are notable for their use of recycled materials. They use a combination (A combination may be:) of frass, or feces, and exuviae, or molted exoskeletons, to create protective structures.
A recent study published in the journal ZooKeys examined the construction of these fecal shields in four species of turtle beetle. Researchers have discovered that some species start building these shields as soon as they hatch, thanks to their telescopic anus. These long and maneuverable appendages allow fecal matter to be positioned on caudal structures.
Other species wait until their first molt to begin building the shield. In both cases, the larvae retain this shield with each successive molt. Some even combine their molted exoskeleton with feces, creating a balanced but precarious structure.
When the researchers removed these shields, the larvae began replacing them as soon as they produced more feces. Caroline Chaboo, research associate at the Nebraska State Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, highlights the importance of symmetry in these structures. .
Several hypotheses explain this creative use of excrement. They could serve as a shield against the elements, protecting the larvae from drying out or overheating. Additionally, these shields could deter predators by imitating bird droppings.
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