Species Gratiana pallidula - Eggplant Tortoise Beetle

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited

Eggplant Tortise Beetle - Gratiana pallidula

Gratiana pallidula (Boheman) - Gratiana pallidula

Cassidine on Solanum - Gratiana pallidula

Cassidine on Solanum, pupa - Gratiana pallidula

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Long-horned and Leaf Beetles)

Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Subfamily Cassidinae (Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines)

Tribe Cassidini (Tortoise Beetles)

Genus Gratiana

Species pallidula (Eggplant Tortoise Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Orig. Comb: Cassida pallidula Boheman, 1854

Explanation of Names

'pale-ish'

Numbers

2 sp. n. of Mex. (1) (2nd sp. recently introduced into SE U.S.)

Identification

Adult: in most live individuals, pronotum light green, elytra light golden brown 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: may be at least partly green, and carry a fecal shield above its back (photo B)

Range

CA-FL-NY-NE / Mex (1)

Food

several species of Solanum (Solanaceae)

See Also

The Tropical Soda Apple (TSA) tortoise beetle, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was approved by the USDA-APHIS-PPQ for field release in Florida on May 7, 2003. The initial release of G. boliviana in Florida began in May 14 in Polk County. Since the summer of 2003, approximately 100,000 beetles have been released in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. This beetle has been established and is dispersing at all the release sites. - Univ. FL

Internet References

Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn

Species page (2)

Works Cited

1.	Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico By Ed Riley, Shawn Clark, and Terry Seeno

2.	Cassidinae of the world - an interactive manual (by Lech Borowiec and Jolanta Świętojańska)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 8 January, 2006 - 12:21pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 17 April, 2011 - 9:11am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2012 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version