Hemisphaerota cyanea

Hemisphaerota cyanea, also known as the Palmetto tortoise beetle, is a species in the Chrysomelidae (leaf beetle) family. Beetles in this family are commonly characterized by their small size (usually less than 13 mm), relatively oval and convex shape, variable color but often shining/ iridescent bodies, small heads, and 5-jointed tarsi.[1] Other names include the Florida tortoise beetle and iridescent blue chrysomelid beetle. It is native to the southeastern United States. The specific name (cyanea) means "dark blue," and the beetle earned its name as the palmetto tortoise beetle because it is the only tortoise beetle that feeds on palms.[2]

Hemisphaerota cyanea
In Brevard County, Florida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Tribe: Hemisphaerotini
Genus: Hemisphaerota
Species:
H. cyanea
Binomial name
Hemisphaerota cyanea
(Say, 1824)
Synonyms[3]

Imatidium cyaneum Say, 1824

  1. ^ Blatchley, W. S. (1924). "The Chrysomelidae of Florida". The Florida Entomologist. 7 (3): 33–39. doi:10.2307/3492687. ISSN 0015-4040. JSTOR 3492687.
  2. ^ Hall, Donald W.; Butler, Jerry F. (1969-12-31). "Palmetto Tortoise Beetle, Florida Tortoise Beetle (unofficial common names), Hemisphaerota cyanea (Say), (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)". EDIS. 2002 (9). doi:10.32473/edis-in388-2001. ISSN 2576-0009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference bg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).