Green shield beetle
| Green shield beetle | ||||||||||||
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Green tortoise beetles when mating |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cassida viridis | ||||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1758 |
The green turtle beetle ( Cassida viridis ) is a beetle from the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). It belongs to the subfamily of the tortoise beetles , of which about 60 species are represented in Europe . In Central Europe there are around 30 species that are difficult to distinguish from one another.
features
Green tortoise beetles grow to be 8.5 to 10 millimeters long. The exoskeleton is colored green, mostly with brownish and yellowish lines and spots. The body is unusually flat and oval in shape, round rather than elongated. There is a flat edge on the outside of the thorax and the wing covers . Both the legs and the rather short, thread-like antennae are brown in color. The underside is black.
distribution
The beetles are widespread in Europe. They mainly inhabit open areas, for example meadows or banks.
Way of life
The animals usually sit on their food plants, which mainly include various mint family . However, they do not disdain composites either. The flat shape and the green color allow them a very good camouflage in the vegetation. The larvae feed like the adult animals. To protect against enemies, they impale their excrement on two thorns on top. When they are old enough, they pupate directly on the plant they live on. The finished beetle hatches from the pupa.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cassida (Odontionycha) viridis Linnaeus 1758. Fauna Europaea, Version 1.3, April 19, 2007 , accessed on January 23, 2008 .
