Hemisphaerota cyanea- Palmetto Tortoise Beetle- mating pair.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
A tropical leaf beetle, Stolas sp. (Chrysomelidae)

Armenia, Belize
A tropical leaf beetle, Stolas sp. (Chrysomelidae)

Armenia, Belize
When disturbed, Paropsisterna eucalyptus leaf beetle larvae evert abdominal glands that release poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A gregarious cluster of Paropsisterna eucalyptus leaf beetles. These insects are chemically defended and are apparently more successful in advertising that fact in numbers.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Western Corn Rootworm - Diabrotica virgifera
Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera) on a soybean. Farmers have traditionally fought this insect by rotating corn out with soybeans every year. The insect lays its eggs in the soil, and in rotated fields the emerging young rootworms find themselves lost in a sea of inedible plants. Yet some populations adapted, flying to soy fields to lay eggs so their offspring catch next year's corn.
Western Corn Rootworm - Diabrotica virgifera
A Diabrotica spotted cucumber beetle clings to goldenrod in an early autumn prairie sunset.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Hemisphaerota cyanea- Palmetto Tortoise Beetle- mating pair.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Hemisphaerota cyanea- Palmetto Tortoise Beetle- mating pair.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Hemisphaerota cyanea- Palmetto Tortoise Beetle- mating pair.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013