Golden tortoise beetle

Description

Aspidimorpha sanctaecrucis, sometimes called the Golden Tortoise Beetle (a common name which refers to other species elsewhere), is an Old World species of beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae. Aspidimorpha sanctaecrucis can reach a length of about 14 mm. This beetle shows a golden reflection in the elytra and prothorax, and a characteristic pattern with well developed posterolateral and humeral spots on the explanate elytral margin. It is active in the rainy season, with diapause in winter and summer. Both adults and larvae feed on Convolvulaceae, mainly on Ipomoea species. In Manipur (N.E. India), it is locally known as "Sandrembi" and "Cheishra". Aspidimorpha is a large Old World genus of beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae; there are some 200 species. The genus name is frequently misspelled as "Aspidomorpha", due to an unjustified spelling change in 1848.