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Project Noah Nature School
Chrysophtharta variicollis
Small spotted hemispherical tortoise leaf beetle. Pic#4 shows eggs while hatching.
Young leaves of Eucalyptus
Tortoise beetle #11 The black beetle is undetermined and probably a (rarer) color variation of the same species. The mating pair spotted and added Feb 18 2012 Here is a closer one http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/148...
Spotted on Dec 21, 2011
Submitted on Dec 21, 2011
11 Comments
Thank you Karen and ashish and asergio
I loved this, Martin.
Martin thanks for perfect info...
At least it looks like they know what to do - unlike the hapless ladybugs I found last week! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/101...
That's cool. Thanks carol. There's lots of bugs doing this lots of the time but tortoise beetles are especially comical because they are rotund and it looks like a major challenge. Maybe they should try bug style http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/819...
Great! Shared at my FB group because this week's theme is THE LOVE BUGS! HA!
Here is another one http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/931...
I've added another pic to this set
Argy, there is some possibility that the black beetle is a melanic color variation in this species. They do look very similar otherwise. Sexual dimorphism is minimal in this species but most marked in the other species that I've just posted. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/814...
Nice shots thanks martinl.
Now I can tell a bit more about the confusing mass of pictures I'm sifting through.
I like the light and dark beetles together - is that possibly male & female?
Nice find!