tortoise beetle

[ tawr-tuhs beet-l ]

noun

1. any of several turtle-shaped leaf beetles, as Chelymorpha cassidea argus tortoise beetle, or milkweed tortoise beetle, which resembles the ladybird beetle and feeds primarily on bindweed and milkweed.

tortoise beetle

noun

1. a metallic-coloured leaf beetle of the genus Cassida, in which the elytra and terga cover the body like a shell

Word History and Origins

Origin of tortoise beetle¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Golden tortoise beetle larvae have a posterior appendage called an anal fork that they can hang over themselves like an awning.

From National Geographic

When a predator approaches, golden tortoise beetle larvae will gather into a defensive circle, "like a herd of bison in a ring," Chaboo says.

From National Geographic

Leaf beetles were frequent finds, including this unidentified species of tortoise beetle.

From BBC

Leaf beetles were frequent finds, including this unidentified species of tortoise beetle.

From BBC

Recently, while shooting a tortoise beetle, I found that it kept flying off the leaf it was on and landing on my diffuser.

From Scientific American