When told about mother's love, we probably think of our own species as its best representation. Those of us with a bit of background in Zoology (or simply addict to BBC or La 2 documentaries) may think of cute images of mammal or bird mothers tending their baby pups or chicks. But, did you ever think of the possibility of beetle mums being able of so much loving and affection for their babies?

Among others, some leaf beetles show maternal love displaying an impressive array of behaviours. When groups of larvae feed on a leaf, their mother sits on the petiole guarding for possible attacks from ants, risking her own life. If things get tough, beetle mum bravely shields her babies with her own body until the threat is gone. These dedicated mothers stay with their children until they reach adulthood, also through the delicate period of pupation, when they sit patiently nearby tending and grooming the pupae, their loving care lasting for as long as two months!

Ref. Art: Origins and diversification of subsociality in leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Chrysomelinae). 2014.  Chaboo,C., Frieiro-Costa,F.,  Gómez-Zurita, J., Westerduijn R. Journal of Natural History . Vol. 48, Iss. 37-38, 2014