Gold tortoise beetles are not harmful to humans. They can damage vines and leaves of plants by drilling holes. They reduce ornamental value of plants as they feed on them. The golden tortoise beetle retains its gold color when not disturbed. When disturbed, it turns dull reddish-orange with black spots. As a pest, it is generally not viewed as serious. To keep the beetles from damaging plants, organic Neem Bliss works well since it is natural. Spraying soapy water kills eggs and larvae on plants. It also makes leaves unsuitable for adults.
Tortoise beetles are found in North America from Great Plains to Atlantic and south to Argentina. Both adults and larvae are less than half-inch long. They can fly by opening their protective covering. The golden tortoise beetle is found in Southeastern Asia. Larvae eat leaves. Despite destructive nature, golden tortoise beetles have striking gold color. They can change color shades using microscopic cavities in shell. When threatened, they tuck appendages under body. They eat plants like morning glory vines and sweet potato vines. At one-fourth inch long, color varies from dark orange to metallic gold. When not stressed, they are shiny gold. When stressed, they turn dark with designs. They shift color to match feeding leaves.
What plants do golden tortoise beetles eat?
The golden tortoise beetle feeds on plants from the morning glory and sweet potato families. It scrapes and eats the outer layer of leaves, leaving the lower layer intact in a “windowpane” pattern that serves as camouflage. This beetle has an impressive defense mechanism – it can rapidly change color from gold to red or orange, likely to startle predators. When calm, the beetles are a metallic gold. The transparent wing covers over red pigment allow light to reflect, creating this gold color. The beetle can manipulate microscopic valves to control pigment volume and change color at will, especially during mating season.
Though widespread in eastern North America, golden tortoise beetle population density varies based on habitat and food source availability. As a herbivore, this beetle fills an important niche in its ecosystem. Its specialized feeding methods and defenses have enabled the species to thrive. These tiny yet striking insects continue to fascinate observers with their distinctive appearance and behaviors.
Why do golden tortoise beetles change color?
The golden tortoise beetle is a species of leaf beetle native to the Americas. It is variable in color from reddish-brown with black spots to brilliant, mirror-like gold. It changes color rapidly, likely to warn off predators. The beetle measures 5–7 mm in length with transparent elytral margins.
The adult beetle has a metallic gold color with dark markings and black spots on its side. It is oval in shape and the same size as Asian lady beetles. When a golden tortoise beetle is disturbed, it changes from gold to reddish-orange, revealing its true color underneath. This rapid color-change ability is very rare in insects.
The golden tortoise beetle is widely distributed in eastern North America, west to about Iowa and Texas. It lives in a variety of habitats like forests, meadows and gardens.
The beetle has a flattened, oval-shaped body with short, spiny legs. Its most distinctive feature is its golden color due to a layer of transparent, reflective scales. When threatened, it can change to reddish-brown or black to blend into its surroundings by altering the reflectivity of its scales.
It feeds on popular garden vines like morning glory, sweet potato and bindweed. Both the adults and larvae chew on leaves and flowers, damaging the appearance of these plants.
How long do golden tortoise beetles live for?
Like most tortoises, the Golden Greek lives over 20 years in the wild. In captivity with caretakers they can live past 100 years, often outliving their handlers.
There are no specific names for male or female adults. Babies are called larvae when eggs hatch and pupae before becoming adults. The name depends on the stage. They feed on foliage, garden vines and weeds.
This beetle group is named for their wing covering extending to the body side, long enough to cover their legs, hence the name tortoise beetle. Golden tortoise beetles are small, measuring between 5 and 7 millimeters.
They vary from dark orange to metallic gold. When not stressed they tend to be shiny gold. When stressed they turn dark orange or red with black or red designs fading the metallic element into a glossy exterior. They can shift color to match the shade of the leaves they feed on.
The golden tortoise beetle retains its gold color when all is well. When disturbed it turns dull reddish-orange with black spots. When dead it’s the same reddish orange. It’s generally not viewed as a serious pest. Beetle habitats on land are numerous.
If a beetle is seen in a home it was considered a fertility sign. This amazing insect found in North America on Corriola leaves and/or Morning Glory feeds. Its rounded body has a metallic yellow color.
Red-eared sliders if cared for properly likely survive into their 30s. Tortoises easily live past 50s and into 80s, possibly outliving their owner.
Typical lifespans of popular pet turtles:
Red-Eared Slider – 25 to 35 years.
Map Turtle – over 30 years.
The gold ladybug is actually the golden tortoise beetle native to the Americas. They change color from reddish-brown with black spots to gold, often metallic, earning the nickname “goldbug”. Scientists have not examined their color-change mechanism. Beetles have chewing mouthparts so technically they can bite. Some species have well-developed jaws or mandibles.
The golden coin turtle or Chinese three-striped box turtle is a species endemic to southern China. Albino Red Eared Sliders are extremely rare in the wild with odds of 1 in 10,000.
Golden Thread Turtles tolerate a wide temperature range. A heater is recommended but they withstand cooler temperatures in an outdoor pond. In climates with cold winters they should be indoor pets.
In China the turtle symbolizes longevity almost certainly linked to their slow metabolism. This results in more gradual accumulation of harmful genetic mutations allowing them to live over 100 years routinely.
Pet tortoises can live into their eighties. Jonathan, a Seychelles Giant Tortoise on St Helena is thought to be nearly 200 years old in the record books as the oldest living land animal. Tortoises have the longest lifespans of all vertebrates.
Collectors and owners refer to any golden yellow tortoise of the Testudo Graeca Terrestris family as a Golden Greek Tortoise. Their color, size and temperament make them ideal pets.
Another testudo is the Moroccan Greek reaching 7-12 inches. Females get larger than males similar to the Hermann’s tortoise. In captivity they often live over 50 years so owners should commit to caring for them. Greek tortoises are active, friendly and outgoing pets.