Species Gratiana pallidula - Eggplant Tortoise Beetle

Gratiana pallidula (Boheman)

Orig. Comb: Cassida pallidula Boheman, 1854

pallid (L). 'pale' (1)

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

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)

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

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

Feb-Oct, peaking in May (4)

Hosts: Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) (2)

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

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

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.

Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn, 2006