Leaf Beetle - Physonota helianthi

Moved

Moved from Tortoise Beetles and the Hispines.

… Mike Quinn, 28 September, 2006 - 12:41pm

Looks a little like

… Jim McClarin, 30 January, 2006 - 10:27pm

Very pretty!

Member of leaf beetle tribe Cassidini. Do you know what type of plant it was on? Did you see more than one on same plant or type of plant? If so, that would strongly suggest that it's a host plant for this species. All tortoise beetles I've found have been on vines in the morning glory group.

… Jim McClarin, 30 January, 2006 - 3:39pm

I agree

I agree, really pretty! I've never seen one like this. A nice find.

One with similar color, and a single black dot in the middle of the pronotum, is:

Range for this particular subspecies seems to be Florida, a long way from Minnesota!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

… Stephen Cresswell, 30 January, 2006 - 3:53pm

Host plant

Seen a fair number of them on Maximillian sunflowers.

… brian flaig, 30 January, 2006 - 3:48pm

Refreshingly different!

It's good to see someone -- even a tortoise beetle -- break out of the mould and eat something different.

… Jim McClarin, 30 January, 2006 - 3:58pm

It's not Cassidini, but...

How about Physonota helianthi? Or am I showing my ignorance here?

… Chuck Entz, 30 January, 2006 - 10:51pm

I couldn't find an image

of an adult of that species. However, it appears that the head is completely hidden beneath the pronotum, which is supposedly diagnostic for Cassidini.

… Jim McClarin, 31 January, 2006 - 5:41am

Maybe not...

This key has that feature for several tribes, including Physonotini.

Here's an image, but, according to the account above, the color changes completely at death- so it's hard to compare.

… Chuck Entz, 31 January, 2006 - 7:26am

Physonota helianthi

Ed Riley confirmed what the host plant (Helianthus maximiliani) and the Alabama key suggest:

Key to the Alabama Species of Physonota

1. Pronotum with one medial black spot ..... P. unipunctata
Pronotum with 3 or 5 black spots ..... P. helianthi

Physonota helianthi, as its name infers, occurs on Helianthus sp.

Physonota unipunctata differs from P. helianthi by being smaller and having a narrower scutellum. Physonota unipunctata feeds on Monarda sp.

… Mike Quinn, 28 September, 2006 - 12:41pm

I agree.

I had looked at this key as well, but had only read the descriptions of the tribes, not the key itself.

… Jim McClarin, 31 January, 2006 - 4:52pm