Leaf beetles' evolutionary success linked to gene transfer and symbiosis phys.org/news/2025-01-leaf-bee…
"Almost all #LeafBeetles have incorporated foreign genetic material into their genome, which is responsible for the production of #enzymes necessary to digest plant cell wall components... half of the species of leaf #beetles live in close association with symbiotic #bacteria. These #symbionts provide the beetles with important digestive enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids."
Leaf beetles' evolutionary success linked to gene transfer and symbiosis
With more than 50,000 described species, the leaf beetle family is distributed worldwide and represents about a quarter of the species diversity of all herbivores. Leaf beetles can be found to feed on almost all plant groups.Max Planck Society (Phys.org)