Hemisphaerota cyanea

Hemisphaerota cyanea, known generally as palmetto tortoise beetle, is a species of leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. Other names include the Florida tortoise beetle and iridescent blue chrysomelid beetle.[2][1] It is native to the southeastern United States, from North Carolina, south to Florida, and west to Mississippi. It is introduced to southern Texas.[3][4][5]

Hemisphaerota cyanea
In Brevard County, Florida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Tribe: Hemisphaerotini
Genus: Hemisphaerota
Species:
H. cyanea
Binomial name
Hemisphaerota cyanea
(Say, 1824)
Synonyms[1]

Imatidium cyaneum Say, 1824

The palmetto tortoise beetle was originally described in 1824 by Thomas Say as Imatidium cyaneum. The specific name (cyanea) means "dark blue".[1]

Description

The palmetto tortoise beetle is a small beetle growing 4.6–5.6 mm (0.18–0.22 in) in length. The coloring of the elytra and pronotum is a dark, metallic blue. The orange antennae are short and enlarged at the tips.[6]

Larva of the palmetto tortoise beetle hide under a nest-like covering of thin strands of frass (fecal matter).[7] They pupate inside of these fecal shelters.[6] The adults hold themselves on fronds of palmettos with thousands of microscopic bristles on their tarsi ("feet"), paired with an oil that makes them difficult to pry off the leaves.[7]

  • Nest-like strands of frass surrounding the larva
  • Bristly tarsi
  • Mating pair in Georgia

Ecology

Both the larva and adults of Hemisphaerota cyanea feed on palmetto plants (Sabal species).[6]

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References
  1. "Hemisphaerota cyanea Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  2. "Hemisphaerota cyanea species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  3. Riley, Edward G.; Clark, Shawn M.; Seeno, Terry N. (2003). Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Special Publication. The Coleopterists Society. ISBN 0-9726087-1-0.
  4. Staines, C.L. "Catalog of the hispines of the World". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  5. "North American Cryptocephalus species (Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae)". Texas Entomology. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  6. Evans, Arthur V. (2014). Beetles of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691133041.
  7. Eisner, Thomas (2003). For love of insects. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674018273.


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