Mottled tortoise beetle

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

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 3⁄16″ 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: 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (5.3 to 6.8 mm)

Similar Species

Habitat

Fields, meadows, parks, gardens, and roadsides

Ecology

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/Hosts

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

Sources

24, 27, 30, 82, 83.

Deloyala guttata (Olivier, 1790) in Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Abreu, C., Acero P, A., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (2026-07-17 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgykv