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This post belongs to the life cycle coded under the Similar Observation Set number 145464047.

Due to iNaturalist's policy of keeping different organisms and pictures taken at different timespans in separate posts, the life cycle was divided into multiple posts, all belonging to this post. The posts can be found here:

Main post, which includes an adult beetle and pupal exuvia: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464047

Larva: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464039

Various larvae and pupae, as well as damage caused to the leaf: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464040

Pupa: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464042

Pupa as time passed: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464044

Pre eclosion pupa: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464045

Post eclosion beetle 1: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464049

Post eclosion beetle 2: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464048

Mating pair: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145464050

THIS POST IS ALSO LINKED TO MY YOUTUBE ACCOUNT. THE VIDEO DISPLAYS ADDITIONAL VISUAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS LIFE CYCLE AND CAN BE ACCESSED HERE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru7pHFjYlQ3517HS1OwRzAArO_ryjVud

The larvae were collected from the host plant Carpentaria acuminata and were bred feeding exclusively on it. The larvae were wrapped in a fecal cocoon, which is excreted after birth. The insect will carry and remain inside the fecal cocoon throughout the entire larval and pupal cycle, freeing itself only after emerging as an adult. The fecal cocoon consists of long fecal strands attached to the rear end of the insect, probably used both as camouflage and protection from predators.