Amazon - Tortoise Beetles / Larva With Fecal Shield

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Wed May 30, 2007 10:06 am

These tortoise beetles were really tiny. I can't really provide scale, but they were much smaller than a ladybug if that helps.

Together...

Separated...

This larva was found much later on the trip so I know there is no connection to these particular beetles, but it seemed like a good time to post it. I don't know for certain that it is a tortoise beetle larva, but I found a nearly identical one on bugguide.net that I used for the id.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:52 pm

Really nice pictures Craig. They have to be one of the coolest beetles because of their shape and the clear edge of their elytra. That is a larva beetle. A+

Tell Ken not to be a stranger

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:52 pm

Thanks Doug, I've always thought tortoise beetles were cool too. I'm sure Ken will be around soon, but just needed a little breather after the mammoth undertaking

of posting all those Amazon pics. I'll probably never be finished

.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:11 am

Tortoise beetles are pretty neat. I have seen them crawling around here before on the Night Shade and Honeysuckle out by the edge of the woods. Neat looking cat too!

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:35 pm

Thanks Ken. I assume the cat that you are referring to is the beetle larva

.