Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Cassida
- Cassida rubiginosa
Common name
Thistle Tortoise Beetle
Images
Source: Roger Key
Source: Malcolm Storey / BioImages
Source: Roger Key
Description
Size: 6-8mm
Basic colour: Green or yellowish-green.
Pattern colour: Elytra sometimes with a small dark triangular spot around the scutellum, also usually a small dark spot near the suture.
Number of spots: See 'pattern colour'.
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Cassida vibex
Basic colour: Green or yellowish-green.
Pattern colour: Elytra sometimes with a small dark triangular spot around the scutellum, also usually a small dark spot near the suture.
Number of spots: See 'pattern colour'.
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour
Confusion species: Cassida vibex
Biology
Status: Common and widespread.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Asteraceae, including thistles and many others.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate in tussocks and moss.
Food: Leaves of host plants - adults usually on the underside, larvae usually on the upper side; adults may also feed on pollen of buttercups and ox-eye daisies.
Other notes: Almost circular looking from above.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Asteraceae, including thistles and many others.
Overwintering: Adults hibernate in tussocks and moss.
Food: Leaves of host plants - adults usually on the underside, larvae usually on the upper side; adults may also feed on pollen of buttercups and ox-eye daisies.
Other notes: Almost circular looking from above.