mottled tortoise beetle

(Deloyala guttata)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

 
mottled tortoise beetle
Photo by Babette Kis
 
Description

Mottled tortoise beetle is a common, small, leaf beetle. It occurs in North America and Central America. It occurs throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, but it is much more common east of the Great Plains. It is less common in Minnesota, where it reaches the northern extent of its range. Adults are active from May to September. They are found in fields, meadows, parks, gardens, and roadsides. Adults and larvae feed on various plants in the Convolvulaceae (bindweed) family, including common morning-glory, field bindweed, hedge bindweed, and ivy-leaved morning-glory. They create circular or irregular holes in the leaves between the veins.

Adults are 316 to ¼ (5.3 to 6.8 mm) in length. The body is oval when viewed from above, convex when viewed from the side.

The head is completely concealed beneath the pronotum when viewed from above. The eyes are not notched. The antennae have 11 segments. They are long but less than half as long as the body. They are extended when at rest. The underside of the prothorax has ridged grooves toward each side for the antennae to be tucked into. The mouthparts are directed downwards.

Broad, flattened, translucent margins of the prothoracic shield (pronotum) and wing covers (elytra) create a hard, domed, almost continuous, turtle-like shell (carapace) over the entire body. The coloration is highly variable. Pale individuals are entirely yellowish brown and unmarked above. The translucent margins are slightly paler. Dark individuals are almost entirely black or black with various shades of brown (dark) above. A narrow pale band borders the front of the dark area on the pronotum, and the lateral edges of the dark area on each elytron. Most individuals are intermediate, with brilliant, metallic, green or gold (pale) spots on a dark background. The number, size, and shape of the pale spots are variable, but they fall into a general pattern of two large spots on each elytron, one near the front margin, one toward the rear. This gives the elytra a mottled appearance, and it is the source of the common name of this beetle. On all color forms, the pigmented area extends to the front lateral corner of each elytron.

The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The fourth segment is very short and is concealed within the broadened tip of the third segment, making the tarsus appear to have only four segments. The last segment bears a pair of claws. The claws are simple, lacking teeth or splits. However, an extension on the final tarsal segment partially obscures the claw, giving the appearance of a split.

 

Size

Total length: 316 to ¼ (5.3 to 6.8 mm)

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Fields, meadows, parks, gardens, and roadsides

Biology

Season

Multiple generations per year: May through September

 

Behavior

Larvae possess a flexible “anal fork” at their body’s end. This structure allows them to attach and carry discarded exoskeletons and fecal matter. The collected debris can be positioned over their back, creating a defensive “shield” that discourages predators.

 

Life Cycle

Adults overwinter on the ground beneath leaf litter.

 

Larva Food

Same as adults

 

Adult Food

Plants in the Convolvulaceae (bindweed) family, including common morning-glory, field bindweed, hedge bindweed, and ivy-leaved morning-glory

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

11/11/2024    
     

Occurrence

Common

Taxonomy

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)

Infraorder

Cucujiformia

Superfamily

Chrysomeloidea (leaf beetles and allies)

Family

Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)

Subfamily

Cassidinae (tortoise and hispine beetles)

Tribe

Cassidini (tortoise beetles)

Genus

Deloyala

   

Subordinate Taxa

 

   

Synonyms

Cassida fuliginosa

Cassida guttata

Cassida signifer

Chirida guttata columbica

Chirida signifera bohemani

Coptocycla extensa

Coptocycla glabricula

Coptocycla hamulata

Coptocycla immunda

Coptocycla immuntia

Coptocycla lucidula

Coptocycla lugubrina

Coptocycla trabeata

   

Common Names

mottled tortoise beetle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

Tarsus

On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

Share your photo of this insect.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

Babette Kis

Deloyala guttata mottled tortoise beetle

Mottled tortoise beetle, Deloyala guttata, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI, May 19, 2024. This beetle looks metallic green in the photos, but from a distance, it appeared to be bright gold.

mottled tortoise beetle   mottled tortoise beetle
     
mottled tortoise beetle    
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
   

 

   

 

 

Camera

Slideshows

Deloyala guttata (Mottled Tortoise Beetle)
Allen Chartier

Deloyala guttata (Mottled Tortoise Beetle)
About

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

slideshow

Visitor Videos
 

Share your video of this insect.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.

 

 

 
 
Other Videos

mottled tortoise beetle (Deloyala guttata)
Outside in Georgia

About

May 26, 2022

Mottled Turtle Beetle - "Deloyala Guttate"
t's Not Our Nature

About

Apr 24, 2020

This Mottle Turtle Beetle was Observed on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica in April 2020.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom, Animalia
Phylum, Arthropoda
Class, Insecta
Order, Coleoptera
Family, Chrysomelidae
Genus, Deloyala
Species, Deloyala_guttata

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Babette Kis
5/19/2024

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Mottled tortoise beetle, Deloyala guttata, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI, May 19, 2024. This beetle looks metallic green in the photos, but from a distance, it appeared to be bright gold.

mottled tortoise beetle
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 11/11/2024

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us