High host specificity and dependence on the host plants are common attributes of herbivorous insects. Their usage in ecosystem studies and landscape assessment is shown by examples from a group of Central European weevils and leaf beetles. Biodiversity can be assessed from the degree of completeness of present herbivore feeding guilds. Wingless species with narrow habitat requirements can be used as good bioindicators of relic natural habitats. and Pavel Špryňar, Jaromír Strejček.