Golden Tortoise Beetle

Natural Habitat

Golden Tortoise Beetles are commonly found in gardens, fields, and other areas where their host plants (such as morning glories, sweet potatoes, and bindweeds) are abundant. They are native to North America.

Diet & Feeding

Both adult and larval Golden Tortoise Beetles are herbivorous, feeding on the leaves of various plants, primarily in the Convolvulaceae family. Their favorite food sources include sweet potatoes, morning glories, and bindweeds, often chewing holes into the leaves.

Behavior Patterns

Golden tortoise beetles typically overwinter as adults and emerge in spring to feed and lay eggs. Larvae, known as 'peddlers,' carry an anal fork with discarded exoskeletons and frass (feces) to create a fecal shield for defense.

Risks & Benefits

Generally, Golden Tortoise Beetles are not considered a significant pest to commercial crops unless present in very large numbers. In home gardens, they might cause some cosmetic damage to morning glories or sweet potato leaves, but rarely severe harm. They are a natural part of the ecosystem and do not pose any direct risks to humans. Their diet of bindweeds can be seen as a minor benefit in agricultural contexts where bindweeds are considered weeds.

Identified on: 8/14/2025