Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Genus Gratiana

Eggplant Tortise Beetle - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana boliviana BG3035 E8749 - Gratiana pallidula Cassidine on Solanum, larva - Gratiana pallidula Genus Gratiana? - Gratiana boliviana green Tortoiseshell beetle - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana pallidula, late-instar larva, used for article on rearing - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana pallidula, showing fecal shield in resting position, used for article on rearing - Gratiana pallidula
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)
Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
Subfamily Cassidinae (Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines)
Tribe Cassidini (Tortoise Beetles)
Genus Gratiana
Explanation of Names
Gratiana Spaeth 1913
Numbers
2 spp. (incl. one recently introduced) in our area, 7 spp. total(1)
Identification
Adult of G. pallidula: carapace in live individuals mostly light green anteriorly (on pronotum), and mostly light golden brown posteriorly (on elytra), with explanate, transparent margins; color of dead specimens mostly medium brown with lighter brownish-yellow margins; body oblong; elytral margins almost parallel-sided for more than half of their length; elytral disc with many small surface pits arranged in several longitudinal rows
Larva of G. pallidula: may be at least partly green, and carry a fecal shield above its back
Range
so. US to Argentina & Bolivia(1)
Food
on Solanum (Solanaceae)(1)
Remarks
G. boliviana was imported to control Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) in FL (Medal et al.)(2)