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Tortoise leaf beetle

Chrysophtharta variicollis

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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-37.808, 145.368

Field Notes

Description:

Small spotted hemispherical tortoise leaf beetle.
Pic#4 shows eggs while hatching.

Habitat:

Young leaves of Eucalyptus

Notes:

Tortoise beetle #11
The black beetle is undetermined and probably a (rarer) color variation of the same species.
The mating pair spotted and added Feb 18 2012

Here is a closer one http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/14863353

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
MartinL
Thank you Karen and ashish and asergio
Ashish
Martin thanks for perfect info...
KarenL
At least it looks like they know what to do - unlike the hapless ladybugs I found last week! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/10182000
MartinL
That's cool. Thanks carol. There's lots of bugs doing this lots of the time but tortoise beetles are especially comical because they are rotund and it looks like a major challenge. Maybe they should try bug style http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8190799
Carol Snow Milne
Great! Shared at my FB group because this week's theme is THE LOVE BUGS! HA!
MartinL
Here is another one http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9317112
MartinL
I've added another pic to this set
MartinL
Argy, there is some possibility that the black beetle is a melanic color variation in this species. They do look very similar otherwise. Sexual dimorphism is minimal in this species but most marked in the other species that I've just posted. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8148901
Mark Ridgway
Nice shots thanks martinl. Now I can tell a bit more about the confusing mass of pictures I'm sifting through. I like the light and dark beetles together - is that possibly male & female?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Beetles of Southeastern Australia

Tags

Photographed
PublishedDecember 21, 2011

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