Thlaspida biramosa is a tortoise beetle of East and Southeast Asia: a small, rounded leaf beetle edged with a wide, see-through rim. Its only known food plants are beautyberries (Callicarpa). It is not found in the United States.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A rounded, flattened beetle about 1/3 in (8–9 mm) long. A chestnut-brown center is surrounded by a broad, nearly clear margin, and dark marks near the rear form a thick black band across the body.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Forest edges
- Beautyberry thickets
- Range
- Found across East and Southeast Asia, from Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan south into Southeast Asia. It does not occur in the United States.
Behavior
- Diet
- Both adults and larvae eat the leaves of beautyberries (Callicarpa species).
Life cycle
- Larva
- The larva carries a shield of its own droppings and shed skins on its tail end.
- Caterpillar food plants
- Beautyberries, including Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica).
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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