Mystery insect larva - BugGuide.Net

Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae

I suspect Plagiometriona clavata - there is one larval photo in bugguide. However, grass would not be its host, and the host plant is always most helpful in assisting id's. Found on various species of morningglory and sweet potato, occasionally getting onto potato.

Yes, a parasol of dried fecal material.

… Donald S. Chandler, 8 July, 2007 - 4:08pm

Thank you

I think you are right: the picture matches and I found it where I had seen a number of tortoise beetles, mostly Golden Tortoise Beetles. I really don't know the identity of the plants in that area, which all looked like giant grass plants, 4 or 5 feet high.

… Dorothy E. Pugh, 8 July, 2007 - 5:29pm

From what little I can see...

the plants in the images aren't grasses, and might very well be something related to morning glories. Is it possible they're on vines twining around the grasses, rather than the grasses themselves?

… Chuck Entz, 8 July, 2007 - 8:58pm

Wider view of plant?

I agree with Chuck. If you could provide a wider view of the leaf and other features (on the uncropped original or related photos), we might be able to recognize the plant.

… John Pearson, 25 December, 2009 - 12:20pm

"Grasses"

Alas, these plants are long gone. I saw them in a power line cut which is aggressively maintained. Recently, they mowed down everything and turned it into compost.

… Dorothy E. Pugh, 25 December, 2009 - 12:31pm

Zoomed-out view of old photo

Oh, I didn't mean a new photo, just a zoomed-out view of the photo you took at the time. If you cropped your original photo to tightly fit the insect subject for submission to BugGuide then, just add the uncropped original now (if you can find it in your photo files from 2 years ago!).

… John Pearson, 25 December, 2009 - 12:49pm