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Palmetto tortoise beetle larva

Hemisphaerota cyanea

Photo by auntnance123
Published on Project Noah
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28.2663, -80.6992

Field Notes

Description:

The larva is covered in a straw-like mass called 'frass', aka feces.
(see Notes)

Habitat:

spotted on palmetto frond in scrub land sanctuary

Notes:

Upon hatching, the young larva begins to excrete strands of dry feces that curl up over its back and accumulate to form a dense thatch-like shield. Larvae have an anal fork to hold the fecal shield in place. The fecal shield has been shown to be an effective defense against a predacious larva of Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and the predacious stink bug, Stiretrus anchorago (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). However, the carabid beetle, Calleida viridipennis (Say) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is able to penetrate the larva's defense by chewing through the shield or by getting underneath it and prying it up

Reference Links:

Palmetto Tortoise Beetle Frass | Beetles | Nature In Focus

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (20)
auntnance123
Thank you, Argy Bee and Mayra. This has become one of my favorite spottings.
auntnance123
Truthfully I dismissed these photos as 'just some stuff' on a palm. But in looking for another ID, I happened upon the reference link attached to this spotting. I thought I may have deleted the 'stuff' files, but finally found them. So, Ashley, I had no clue; but have learned not to delete even the most obscure photos. And Gilma and Yuko, the amazing thing is what can be learned from the PN community. Thanks for your comments.
YukoChartraw
Great spotting! Who would even imagine (other than the PN experts) that this is actually a beetle larva!?
AshleyT
How did you even figure out this was an animal??
auntnance123
I thought it was pretty incredible, Mayra; this was the first time I'd ever seen one.
Sergio Monteiro
Think about, they go through a great part of their lives covered with poo...
auntnance123
This is the adult beetle: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7202618
auntnance123
A pretty extreme survival strategy to be sure. At least giant swallowtail caterpillars only 'look' like poop.
Ava T-B
I ditto lori.tas -- coolest yuckiest thing ever!
KarenL
Seems like a good tactic to avoid getting eaten!
lori.tas
That is possibly the coolest yuckiest thing ever.
textless
Wow - I've never seen anything like it. Great find!
auntnance123
This is by far the strangest thing I've discovered in the scrub--really exciting.
Photographed
PublishedNovember 27, 2011

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