ARGUS TORTOISE BEETLE
Chelymorpha cassidea
LEAF BEETLE FAMILY (Chrysomelidae)
Tortoise beetles in general have a turtlelike shape as the name implies. The body is circular, often having protruding margins on the pronotum and elytra. The head is largely or completely hidden from above. The argus tortoise beetle is 3/5 to ½ inch long. It has small mouth parts and a head that slants backward. It is reddish orange with several black spots on the abdomen and thorax.
Adults are found on milkweed and morning glory. This beetle was photographed at the beginning of May in Childs Hollow. It is probably common at Fontenelle Forest.
Larvae can cause considerable damage to its host plants. Larvae are flat, spiny and have a forked appendage at the tip of the abdomen to which are attached debris and excrement. These are held over the body like an umbrella. It helps camouflage the larva and when approached by a predator the larva forces this material into its face. This deters the predator. The tortoise beetles are in a subfamily (Cassidinae) of the leaf beetle family.
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