Golden Tortoise Beetle
Charidotella sexpunctata
They can change color in minutes by moving fluid through layers of their transparent cuticle, effectively acting like a biological mood ring.
- Scientific name
- Charidotella sexpunctata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Chrysomelidae › Charidotella
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Meadows, gardens, and forest edges where morning glory plants are abundant.
- Diet
- Foliage of plants in the Convolvulaceae family, specifically morning glories and sweet potatoes.
- Range
- North America, Central America
- Size
- 5 to 7 mm in length; approximately the size of a pencil eraser.
- Lifespan
- 1 year
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread use of garden pesticides and loss of meadow habitats.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. These beetles do not bite, sting, or carry toxins. Safe to observe closely or handle gently; if the beetle turns from gold to red, it is stressed and should be returned to its host plant.
The golden tortoise beetle ( Charidotella sexpunctata ) is a species of beetle in the leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae. It is native to the Americas.
Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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