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Tortoise Shell Beetle

Cassida sp.

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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16.7275, -92.9325

Field Notes

Description:

Precious little Tortoise Shell Leaf Beetle, metallic green and black, 6 mm long. Family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Hispinae.

Habitat:

Heavy shrubbery along the highway between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez, km 11.5, 865 meters.

Reference Links:

Cassida

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
LaurenZarate
Thank you so much Adarsha! You gave me a clue and for sure it is the same genus. I went in to look at species of Cassida and was amazed how many widely scattered species there are similar to this one. It must be a very successful color pattern. You are right, C. circumdata is really similar to this one!
Adarsha B S
Though it looks somewhat similar to Cassida circumdata, region of existence is the problem though! http://www.flickr.com/photos/itchydogimages/7654121966/ http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15634181
LaurenZarate
Thank you Bill, I still wasn't very happy with the pictures, it is hard to have the photo show them as beautiful as they really are. Maybe you are right, bright sun and no flash! I'll try that next time.
beaker98
Great shots Lauren! You did a great job of getting the "shell" to stand out. I always drown mine out with the flash. Hmmm, maybe I should try no flash:)
LaurenZarate
Thank you Dan, they are always so fun to find!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mexico Horn of Plenty
Mission
Beetles!
Mission
2013 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

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Photographed
PublishedAugust 28, 2013

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