Golden Tortoise Beetles
Friday, 03 June 2005 09:35
Golden Tortoise Beetles are fairly small (less than ¼ of an inch long) turtle-shaped beetles that vary in color from dull orange, green or brilliant gold (like a piece of shiny jewelry). Tortoise beetles have thin margins that extend out from their body and a shield-like structure covering their head. Oval, spiny tortoise beetle larvae use their rear spines to hold debris and excrement over their back. They then stick this material at potential predators to protect themselves.
Golden tortoise beetles are fond of plants in the morning glory family (Convolvulacae) such as Ipomoea batatas Marguerite (Sweet Potato Vine), Ipomoea tricolor or purpurpea (Morning Glory), Ipomoea alba (Moon Flower) and Ipomoea x multifida (Cardinal Climber). Adults may also feed on weeds such as bindweed, thistles, horse nettle, etc.
You can see the distinct round holes on the leaves of a sweet potato vine. If left unchecked, they can riddle the leaves full of holes. Both adults and larvae can feed on the leaves.
Eliminate weed hosts near the greenhouse. A number of insecticides including pyrethroids (Talstar or Decathlon), Duraguard, and Orthene, to name a few, are labeled for beetles and should provide control. Repeat applications may be needed.
Photos: Tortoise beetle and feeding damage to Ipomoea
Leanne
