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Project Noah Nature School
Tracymela sloanei
mimic eucalyptus seed nuts.
Eucalyptus Tree
1st spotting of a Tortoise Beetle. They are so named because (like ladybird beetles) they can withdraw their toes into (under) their shell and prevent being pestered by ants, or other bullying insects.
Eucalyptus in California look superb because there are few leaf eating insects. This beetle is our other gift to you. Tortoise beetles are one of my favorite insects and my spottings are disproportionately weighted. They are so named because (like ladybird beetles) they can withdraw their toes into (under) their shell and prevent being pestered by ants, or other bullying insects.
These were way up high. I had to ask a tourist to pull down the branch and hold it ,while I took a picture.
Thanks Martin.
The fact that these are tortoise beetles makes me very happy. i have been looking for those for a while.
These tortoise beetles are likely to be Trachymela. They are black or grey, mimicking eucalyptus seed nuts. http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_qu...
(The genus name Paropsis is spelled with one 'p' and your source material contains a typo.)
Spotted on May 12, 2013
Submitted on May 12, 2013
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