Tortoise Beetles

These oblong-oval beetles are basically gold in color with various black and/or red markings depending upon species. Slightly flattened and squared at the shoulders, tortoise beetles' bodies are somewhat shell-like in appearance.

Tortoise beetles overwinter as adults under bark, in leaf litter, or in other dry, protected places. In spring, beetles emerge and feed on weed hosts until sweet potato plants are available.

Tortoise beetle eggs usually occur in large masses. Each individual egg is elongated and attached to the plant surface by a gelatin substance. Female adults deposit clusters of 15 to 30 eggs on the undersides of leaves. Larvae emerge 7 to 10 days later. After feeding for 2-1/2 to 3 weeks, larvae transform into pupae. About a week later, a new generation of beetles emerges. Several generations may occur each year in southern states.

The spined larvae may be dull yellow, brown, or green. They all have black heads, prothoracic shields behind the head, spots, and forks pointing out from the rear end. The forks are long spines near the tip of the abdomen which hold large masses of excrement.

Most tortoise beetles feed on sweet potato, morning glory, bindweed cabbage, corn, raspberry, strawberry, milkweed, plantain, and eggplant depending on species.

The best controls are fall cleanup, adequate watering, adequate fertilization, and an all around healthy garden area. Planting after the normal beetle emergence also deters most of the beetle population.

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