Numerous Kinds of Larvae Make Poop Shields

The fecal shield is a structure made by the larvae of numerous species of Chrysomelidae leaf beetles. It is made of the insect's frass and frequently its exuviae, or fragments of lost exoskeleton. The shield can be carried by the beetle on its back or held in its hind end. The primary purpose of the fecal shield is protection against predators. Other names for the fecal shield that have been used in the literature include "larval garment," "kotanhang," or "faecal appendage," "faecal mask," "faecal pad," and "exuvio-faecal annex."

Due to their armor, turtles, armadillos, and shellfish enjoy a strong defensive edge. Other organisms must use their creativity because they don't have the same genetic advantages. Consider the tortoise beetle, which defends itself from predators by building a shield out of its own waste.

As a sort of protection before developing their own hard carapace, many other species of beetle perform the same thing as larvae. The tactic is eerily clever because it makes advantage of a resource that the beetle never runs out of and that very few predators want to approach. The tortoise beetle may even shift its shield and use it as a weapon to combat potential predators.