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Species Gratiana pallidula - Eggplant Tortoise Beetle

Eggplant Tortoise Beetle? - Gratiana pallidula

early-instar larva of Gratiana pallidula, used for article on rearing - Gratiana pallidula

Gratiana pallidula prepupal, used for article on rearing - Gratiana pallidula

eclosion of Gratiana pallidula, 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

Species pallidula (Eggplant Tortoise Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Gratiana pallidula (Boheman)

Orig. Comb: Cassida pallidula Boheman, 1854

Explanation of Names

pallid (L). 'pale' (1)

Numbers

2 spp. (incl. one recently introduced) n. of Mex. (2) (2nd sp. in se US)

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

e. US to s. CA (CA-FL-NY-NE) / Mex. - Map (3)(4), less common back east

Habitat

In fields and areas where Solanum grows, usually on the upper side of leaves and often hidden inside curled leaves.

Season

Feb-Oct, peaking in May (4)

Food

Hosts: Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) (2)

Species include Solanum melongena, Solanum carolinese, Solanum xantii, Solanum elaegnifolium.(5)

Life Cycle

See article on Rearing Gratiana pallidula with images of habitat, life cycle, and more.

Print References

Boheman, C. H., 1854. Monographia Cassididarum. Tomus secundus. Holmiae, 506 pp. + 2 tab.

White, R.E. 1975. The identity of Gratiana lutescens (Boh.) and G. pallidula (Boh.) (Cassidinae: Chrysomelidae). USDA Coop. Econ. Ins. Rpt., 25 (10): 166.

Internet References

Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn, 2006

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.

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

3.	Catalog of Leaf Beetles of America North of Mexico Ed Riley, Shawn Clark, and Terry Seeno. 2003. Coleopterists Society.

4.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

5.	Gratiana pallidula Jaclyn Tolchin. 2013. Animal Diversity Web.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 8 January, 2006 - 12:21pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov, dvoribird
Last updated 2 July, 2022 - 6:43pm

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