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__NOTOC__ ''Diamphidia'' or Bushman arrow-poison beetle, is an African genus of leaf beetle. ''Diamphidia'' in the Chrysomelidae family, the same family as the Colorado potato beetle. The larvae and pupae of ''Diamphidia'' produce a toxin used by Bushmen as an arrow poison.〔〔 The Finnish explorer Hendrik Jacob Wikar, who travelled in Southern Africa in 1773–1779, described the larvae as "poisonous worms". Hans Schinz was the first scientist to document the process by which the Bushmen extract and use the poison. The adults and larvae of ''Diamphidia nigroornata'' feed on ''Commiphora angolensis'' (Engler), whereas ''Diamphidia vittatipennis'' eat African myrrh. ==Life cycle== Adult females of ''Diamphidia femoralis'' Gerstaecker and ''Diamphidia nigroornata'' Stål lay their eggs on the stems of ''Commiphora'' species and coat the eggs with their faeces which hardens into a protective covering. As the larval instars develop, the pellets of their own faeces remain attached to their backs and posteriors.〔Chaboo CS, Grobbelaar E, Larsen A, (Fecal Ecology in Leaf Beetles: Novel Records in the African Arrow-Poison Beetles, Diamphidia Gerstaecker and Polyclada Chevrolat (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) ) (2007) ''The Coleopterists Bulletin'': Vol. 61, No. 2 pp. 297–309〕 The final instar sheds this faecal coat when entering the soil to pupate. The same behaviour is found in ''Blepharida'', a Flea Beetle and ''Polyclada'', the African Leaf Beetle.〔 The ''Diamphidia'' larvae burrow down for a depth of up to 1 metre in the sand under the food plant, where they may lie dormant for several years before going through a very rapid pupal phase. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Diamphidia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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