Tortoise Beetle Larva

Found on the underside of leaves of host plants, such as sweet potato, thistle, or morning glory vines.

Herbivorous; they feed on the foliage of specific host plants, often creating characteristic holes in leaves.

Larvae exhibit a unique 'fecal shield' behavior where they carry an accumulation of their own waste and cast skins on a specialized fork over their backs as a chemical and physical defense against predators.

Generally harmless to humans but can be considered garden pests if they occur in large numbers. Benefits the ecosystem as a food source for birds and predatory insects.