Diet

• Adults: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers and tender plant tissues. Different species are associated with different host plants.

• Larvae: Feed on plant tissues, although the immature biology of many Spintherophyta species remains poorly documented.

• Adults may leave small holes or irregular feeding damage in leaves, particularly on young foliage.

Range

• Spintherophyta is a Neotropical genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, occurring from Mexico through Central America and into South America.

• Spintherophyta occurs in Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region, where the tropical vegetation provides suitable habitat.

• Around Zihuatanejo, Spintherophyta beetles are occasional, although individual species may be locally common where their preferred host plants are abundant.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland, scrub, forest edges, gardens and secondary vegetation.

• Adults are generally found directly on foliage, particularly young leaves and tender growth.

• Around Zihuatanejo, carefully examining shrubs, vines and low trees is likely to be more productive than searching tree trunks or the ground.

• Some species may be particularly active during the rainy season, when fresh foliage is abundant.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in), depending on species.

• Body generally oval, convex and compact.

• Many species are strikingly coloured, with combinations of metallic green, blue, bronze, copper, red, yellow or black.

• The polished surface and bright colouration can make these small beetles quite conspicuous when sunlight catches them.