Tortoise Beetle

Description:

Chrysomelidae; Cassidinae; Cassida; Cassida circumdata Herbst, 1799. I have published two spottings of this species on Project Noah in recent months. In both cases, the C. circumdata shown in my pictures had colour patterns which are not so commonly seen (in my area). The copulating couple shown above display what is perhaps the most common colour pattern. If the female flies off and ovulates elsewhere, then this spotting represents just what you see here and nothing more. However, it is possible that she will ovulate in our vegetable plot where these photos were taken and that might give me the opportunity to document the nymphs which are strange little creatures with an interesting deterrent against predation. So I will be on the lookout over the coming weeks.

Habitat:

This copulating couple were spotted this afternoon at 4:30 pm on Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) locally known as Kamote, in our vegetable plot. Plant ID - http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kamote.html...

Notes:

Previous spottings of this species - https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/14... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17...