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

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
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) » Tortoise Beetles (Cassidini) » Gratiana

Genus Gratiana

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Works Cited
Tortoise Beetle - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana boliviana Tribe Cassidini - Tortoise Beetles -? - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana pallidula Gratiana pallidula on silver leaf night - Gratiana pallidula Gratiana pallidula, late-instar larva, used for article on rearing - Gratiana pallidula freshly eclosed Gratiana pallidula showing wet wings - Gratiana pallidula exuvia (retaining caudal furca) of freshly eclosed Gratiana pallidula - 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)
Works Cited
1.Cassidinae of the world - an interactive manual (by Lech Borowiec and Jolanta Świętojańska)
2.EDIS -- Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 8 January, 2006 - 10:56am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov
Last updated 26 April, 2012 - 4:27am

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 © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact