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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) » Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines (Cassidinae) » Hemisphaerotini » Hemisphaerota » Palmetto Tortoise Beetle (Hemisphaerota cyanea)
Photo#262164
no idea - Hemisphaerota cyanea
Copyright © 2009 Odin Toness

no idea - Hemisphaerota cyanea
Niceville, Okaloosa County, Florida, USA
March 31, 2009
Size: 1/8 in
On palmetto. Rather sessile.

Images of this individual: tag all
no idea - Hemisphaerota cyanea no idea - Hemisphaerota cyanea
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Contributed by Odin Toness on 31 March, 2009 - 11:38am

Hemisphaerota cyanea
*
… v belov, 31 March, 2009 - 12:22pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree, plus info...
I agree with "V's" ID. This beetle was studied in depth by Dr. Thomas Eisner because those big feet have incredible gripping power. The beetle cannot be pried off of a substrate by an ant, for example. The weight it takes to finally pull the beetle off is just astounding as I recall.
… Eric R. Eaton, 31 March, 2009 - 1:17pm login or register to post comments

 
thanks for the pointer to Eis
thanks for the pointer to Eisner. He also has an article on the "defensive use of a fecal thatch" by Hemisphaerota c. which explains other things I have seen on palmettos.
… Odin Toness, 1 April, 2009 - 7:43am login or register to post comments

 
Oh I have his book "For Love of Insects"
It's amazing I read it on the 12 hour drive down to/from Hilton Head (about 2 weeks ago). One of the chapters was all about their larvae and also about the adults and how they're feet are able to cling to the palmettos so well. I was so excited when I found one on Kiawah Island, where we stopped for 2 days before going to HH for another week.
… Sean McVey, 9 July, 2011 - 9:38am login or register to post comments

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