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Beach Tortoise Beetle
Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Cassinidae, Aspidomorpha deusta
-16.8316, 145.701
Field Notes
Description:
Bright orange beetles, 8mm in diameter. So named by the characteristic gelatinous-looking shield that looks like a tortoise or turtle shell. They can easily protect their legs by lowering their shield to the leaf. If you startle them, they just tuck their legs in and drop off the leaf and out of sight.
Habitat:
Living and feeding on the bright lime green leaves of a Convolvulaceae vine, Cattana Wetlands QLD.
Notes:
If you have a few minutes watch the video clip http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Behind+the+Scenes/Museum+Expert… from the QLD museum. The larvae have an amazing and interesting defense mechanism.
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedMarch 9, 2013
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