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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Beetles (Coleoptera) (58 Galleries) >> Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines (Family: Chrysomelidae, Subfamily: Cassidinae) > Green tortoise beetle (Cassida rubiginosa)
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21-JUN-2014 Christine Hanrahan

Green tortoise beetle (Cassida rubiginosa)

Spying some Canada Thistle, I looked for signs of tortoise beetle feeding behaviour. Then I looked for the insects themselves. I saw more of the fecally-protected larvae than the adults, and was about to give up when I looked at a goat's beard plant next to the thistles and there was this lone adult. These beetles are introduced from Europe and have been used to help control the non-native and invasive Canada Thistle. Thanks to Tom Murray for help with the species ID.

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Tom Murray08-Apr-2016 02:05
Nice find, I'll have to check the thistle this year. Looks like it's probably the Thistle Tortoise Beetle (Cassida rubiginosa).
Carl Carbone25-Jun-2014 02:20
Interesting info. Why is it called Canada Thistle if it's non-native?
Janet Forjan-Freedman25-Jun-2014 00:59
Great eye in finding this well camouflaged beetle. Nice work.
Irene Wehrli21-Jun-2014 21:07
So well camouflaged this green beetle, a nice one!
Irene
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