Turtle leaf beetle - Turtle leaf beetle

This insect belongs to the family Chrysomelidae, order Coleoptera, class Insecta, and subfamily Neophyinae. It is found widely throughout Japan, as well as Asia and Europe. Its body length is about 7 mm. It is a turtle-shell shaped beetle that is white or yellowish white, with small black spots scattered on its back, and both sides of its prothorax and upper wings are flat and spread out. The larvae are flat with spines on the outer edges, and have the habit of placing feces on their backs.

Tortoise beetles are a subfamily of beetles called Cassidinae, and there are over 3,000 known species in the world, with beautiful species measuring over 10 millimeters, particularly in tropical regions, some of which, like the southern giant tortoise beetle Polychalca variolosa, are used to make ornaments such as brooches. All are tortoiseshell-shaped with an oval or round shape, and both adults and larvae feed on the leaves of plants such as redweed and sugar beets. There are about 30 species native to Japan, including the golden-shining Aspidomorpha difformis when alive.

[Takehiko Nakane]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱甲虫目ハムシ科カメノコハムシ亜科に属する昆虫。日本各地のほかアジア、ヨーロッパに広く分布する。体長約7ミリメートル。亀の甲形の甲虫で白色ないし黄白色、背面に小さい黒点を散らし、前胸と上ばねの両側は平たく広がる。幼虫は平たくて外縁に棘(とげ)があり、糞(ふん)を背中にのせる習性がある。

　カメノコハムシ亜科Cassidinaeの甲虫の英名は、tortoise beetlesで世界に3000種以上が知られ、とくに熱帯域には10ミリメートル以上の美麗な種があり、ナンベイオオカメノコハムシPolychalca variolosaのようにブローチなどの装飾品にされるものもある。いずれも亀の甲状で楕円(だえん)形ないし円形、成・幼虫ともアカザ、テンサイなどの葉を食べる。日本産は約30種、生時金色に光るジンガサハムシAspidomorpha difformisなどがある。

［中根猛彦］

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