Tortoise beetles are small beetles that resemble miniature turtles. They are rarely found in high numbers in home gardens, so their feeding is primarily cosmetic. You'll find them on plants in the Convolvulaceae family (morning glories, bindweeds, etc.)
Though some gardeners consider them a pest, the tortoise beetle does not gather in great numbers and what little it eats of these plants is not harmful – just cosmetic. I take great joy in seeing them in all their life stages and happily share my gardens with them.
Spray Soap Solutions
Spraying soapy water on tomato plants kills tortoise beetle eggs and larvae while making the leaves inhospitable for adult insects. Purchase a commercial, ready-to-use insecticidal soap product or make your own solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid soap for every 1 quart of water.
The beetles are fairly small, measuring 5.0 to 7.0 mm in length. The beetles vary slightly in color but invariably are orange colored, often golden metallic, and are sometimes called "goldbugs." Figure 1. Adult golden tortoise beetle, Charidotella bicolor (Fabricius).
Based on studies of these pests in field nurseries and eucalyptus stands, long–term control can be achieved by a soil drench application of the systemic neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid (Merit or Bayer Advanced 12-month Tree & Shrub Insect Control) or clothianidin (Arena—for commercial applicators only).
In the spring, after the beetles feed on the foliage and before the larvae crawl down the trunk to pupate, band trees with either carbaryl (Sevin® with 2% active ingredient) or a botanical insecticide (Pyrethrum or Pyrethorid, synthetic pyrethrum).
They are attracted to the warmth emitted by nearby buildings and will crawl into cracks and holes in the buildings' exterior walls. They crawl as far back as they can into wall voids and attics. During warm winter days, some beetles may make their way into the interior of the building.
Adult beetles and larvae chew semicir- cular holes or irregular notches along edges of eucalyptus leaves (Fig. 1). The beetles can remove most of a leaf's surface, leaving only the midvein, and they occasionally feed on new termi- nal growth.
Apply insecticide directly to the affected plant's leaves to ensure that the infestation does not continue. Use an insecticide containing the chemical carbaryl. Apply no more than 10 pounds per acre per crop.
There are a few species of tortoise beetles. The one most commonly seen by produce growers in Maine feeds on eggplants, tomatillos, peppers and potatoes. They overwinter as adults and come out in the mid-spring. Their minor damage is from eating holes in leaves.
White vinegar can typically be used on most fabrics, including furniture upholsteries, without causing damage. Vinegar is a natural deterrent for carpet beetles as they do not like the scent and the solution can kill eggs and larvae. Straight vinegar poured into a spray bottle and applied to problem areas works well.
Peppermint. Peppermint essential oil might just be the holy grail of natural pest repellents to leave around your home's entry points, as it can help keep away ticks, spiders, roaches, moths, flies, fleas, beetles, and ants. Use sachets of this oil near your doors and windows or try making a diffuser or spray.
What works best for most beetle infestations are two products in particular. First, you can apply Bifen LP Granules to the turf and mulch areas surrounding the home and then spray the granules with Supreme IT Insecticide, as well as use Supreme IT as a barrier perimeter treatment to keep beetles out of your home.
They mostly live in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In places they live, they're mostly found in association with plants in the family Convolvulaceae, their primary host. Adults emerge during the winter, but the beetles usually move to the host plant around spring.
Tortoise beetles, Cassidinae own their name to the carapace under which they can find shelter like a tortoise, with the difference that their carapace can open for flight. This species with the scientific name Stolas coalita is from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador.
Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is likely an important early season host, being perennial and emerging in midspring. Later, morning glories and sweet potato may be colonized. Eggs are laid on leaves and the developing larvae feed on foliage, producing characteristic holes in the center of leaves.
Vinegar repels carpet beetles, which hate the scent. Use a mixture of white or apple cider vinegar and water to clean areas where carpet beetle larvae can be found. Another natural deterrent is a fine white dust called diatomaceous earth, or DE.
Adults live up to two months. The mated female lays around 250 eggs in 2 to 5 days after emergence. The eggs are laid singly on either surface of the leaf and covered with the translucent golden brown parchment-like membrane. Hatching of eggs occurs in 4 to 7 days.
tortoise beetle, (subfamily Cassidinae), any member of more than 3,000 beetle species that resemble a turtle because of the forward and sideways extensions of the body. Tortoise beetles range between 5 and 12 mm (less than 0.5 inch) in length, and the larvae are spiny.
Life Cycle: Tortoise beetles overwinter as adults under bark or leaf litter. In the spring, the beetles emerge and feed on hosts. Female adults deposit clusters of eggs on the undersides of leaves. The larvae emerge within a week. After feeding for an additional three weeks, the larvae transform into pupae.
Eucalyptus has a strong scent that impedes many insects' sense of smell which makes it difficult for them to locate their target and drives them away from the area. This is especially helpful when it comes to mosquitoes as eucalyptus has similar effects as citronella which also deters mosquitoes.
Symptoms. Eucalyptus rust primarily attacks young (juvenile) leaves and also the flowers, shoots and fruits of a number of Myrtaceae species. First signs of rust infection are tiny raised spots or pustules on infected tissue. After a few days pustules turn a distinctive yellow colour.
Damage. Adult leaf beetles chew and feed on foliage and cause ragged leaves and sometimes premature drop of foliage. Adult flea beetles cause pits and small holes in leaves and cause the immediately surrounding tissue to become bleached or whitish. Heavy feeding can kill seedings.
Some species of the big family of leaf beetles (contains >2000 species) produce toxic compounds that are even dangerous for humans, because they cause chronic neuronal diseases.
The insecticides carbaryl (Sevin) and malathion will control adult lily leaf beetles and their larvae.