Like spittlebugs, tortoise beetle larvae conceal themselves underneath an excretion of the plant material that they eat. However, since the beetle larvae feed on leaves rather than sap, the end product is not nearly as elegant as the spittlebugs'...
 |
| A tortoise beetle larva with its fecal shield raised. |
...nor is the process of making their coverings.
 |
| A tortoise beetle adding to its shield. |
Yet regardless of aesthetic objections, the fecal shields seemed to be quite adequate for the purpose of protecting the larvae, which thoroughly infested the bindweed in the garden without attracting any predators or parasites (as far as I could see).
 |
| Three tortoise beetle larvae on a mostly eaten bindweed (Convolvulaceae) leaf. |
No comments:
Post a Comment