CASEBEARING BEETLE

any small, robust, cylindrical insect belonging to one of several subfamilies in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidaee.g., Clytrinae, Cryptocephalinae, Chalamisinae, and Lamprosomatinae. The female covers each egg with a layer of excrement; after the larvae hatch, they retain this covering as camouflage and add to it. When disturbed, the adults pull in their legs; because of their colouring and shape, they resemble caterpillar droppings and are ignored by predators. The European species Clythra quadripunicata and the North American Coscinoptera dominicana live in ant nests.