Theobroma cocoa and chocolate. "Theobroma" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus "Endoclita", including "E. chalybeatus", "E. damor", "E. hosei" and "E. sericeus". The larvae of another moth, "Hypercompe muzina", feed exclusively on "Theobroma cacao". An active ingredient of cacao, theobromine, is named for the genus. Theobroma Theobroma is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is sometimes classified as a member of Sterculiaceae. It contains roughly 20 species of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. The generic name is derived from
Midge greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles. One type of midge "ceratopogonid midges" (a type of fly in the family Dipteran) is a major pollinator of "Theobroma cacao" (cocoa tree) because of its unique morphological and behavioral characteristics. Having natural pollinators has beneficial effects in both agricultural and biological production because it increases "Theobroma cacao" crop yield and also density of predators of the midges (still beneficial to all parties). Examples of families that include species of midges include: The Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) include serious blood-sucking pests, feeding both on humans