Acromis sparsa
order: coleoptera
family: chrysomelidae
subfamily: cassidinae
Acromis sparsa is a species of leaf beetle, specifically a tortoise beetle with a neotropical distribution (Mexico to Brazil), and found in tropical forests.
Both the adults and the larvae will feed and live on hogvine plants (Merremia umbellata). This is a vine with yellow flowers and fruit, often harvested for medicine and food.
This species of beetle exhibits complex behaviours not often observed in other leaf beetles.
the males have an intense competition, where they fight over females
the females will guard their larvae, sometimes standing on their backs to shield them
the larvae are lacking in many defensive behaviours that are displayed cassinidae larvae without maternal care
The only sexual dimorphism is in the shape of the elytra. The top corners in males end in long points. The males are also often seen with elytral holes, but this is thought to be due to fighting rather than a biological reason.