Diet

• Adults: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers and tender plant tissues. Many species are associated with particular plant families or genera.

• Larvae: Feed on plant tissues, although the immature stages of many Typophorini are poorly documented.

• Some species can produce noticeable feeding holes or irregular damage on the leaves of their host plants.

Range

• Typophorini is a tribe of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the subfamily Galerucinae.

• The tribe is primarily Neotropical, with species occurring from Mexico through Central America and into South America.

• It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where the tropical dry forest and abundant leafy vegetation provide suitable habitat.

Habitat

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

• Adults are generally found on foliage, particularly shrubs, vines and low-growing plants.

• Around Zihua, look carefully at fresh leaves along forest edges, clearings and roadsides, especially during the rainy season.

• Some species may be attracted to lights at night, providing another opportunity to encounter adults.

Size

• Adult length: generally approximately 4–10 mm (0.16–0.4 in), depending on species.

• Body usually elongate to oval, with relatively long legs and antennae.

• Colouration varies considerably and may include yellow, orange, brown, black, metallic green or blue, sometimes with contrasting stripes or spots.

• Their relatively slender appearance can cause them to be mistaken for other galerucine leaf beetles.