tortoise beetle
tortoise beetle (zo?l.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larv? feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines. the golden tortoise beetle (cassida aurichalcea) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants... see tortoise | ||||
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Tortoise beetle Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
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Tortoise beetle
The tortoise beetles (Cassidini) are a tribe within the leaf beetle subfamily Hispinae. In past classifications, they have been variously placed as a family ("Cassidae") or a subfamily (Cassidinae). Their common name arose from the superficial resemblance some species bear to tortoises, the elytra being analogised with the aforementioned reptile's carapace.
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