Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Coleoptera (Beetles) ➔ Family Chrysomelidae (Leaf beetles)
Cassida (Cassida) rubiginosa O.F. Müller, 1776
Distel-Schildkäfer Thistle Tortoise Beetle
Further vernacular names:
Green Thistle BeetleClassification:
Cassida rubiginosa belongs to the subfamily Cassidinae, tribe Cassidini.Distribution:
Palearctic (Europe, Asia, North Africa), North America.Habitat:
On moderately fresh to moist meadows, in reed beds and in extensive fields.Description:
Size 6 - 7.5 mm; elytra and pronotum form a wide shield covering the body; pronotum monochrome green; elytra in fully colored animals with red or yellow-brown basal triangle and 4 basal spots and a distinct spot behind the shield; elytra without black spots on the shoulder bulge; lateral margin of the elytra bent and flattened, edge of lateral margin not thickened in the middle; elytra with ± irregular dot stripes, at least in the 3rd and 4th space there are surplus dots; clypeus black; forehead narrow, more than 1/4 longer than broad; legs mostly yellow, at least the 1st third of the femora black; claws toothless at the base.Biology:
The Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa is an oligophagous species living on composites (Asteraceae: Carduinae). In Central Europe the beetles are found on thistles (Carduus, Cirsium, Silybum), burdock (Arctium) and knapweed (Centaurea).Cassida rubiginosa forms one generation per year. The adults overwinter and appear in early spring. A female lays about 800 eggs. The eggs are laid in small groups near the tip of a leaf and covered with a reddish-brown secretion. After hatching, the larvae, like the imagines, live and feed on the leaf surface. The greenish or brownish colored larvae carry a shield of faeces and old larval skins, which serves as protection against parasitoids. The pupal period lasts about 8 days. In early summer the new generation of Cassida rubiginosa hatches. The beetles feed on their host plants until autumn and hibernate after maturation feeding.
Natural enemies:
The tachnids Dufouria chalybeata (Meigen, 1824) and Eucelatoria dimmocki (Aldrich, 1932) (Diptera: Tachinidae).Some parasitic wasp species from the families Eulophidae, Chalcididae, Eupelmidae, Mymaridae, Tetracampidae, Trichogrammatidae, Ichneumonidae.
Cerceris albofasciata (Rossi, 1790) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Philanthinae) - Cerceris albofasciata is a predator of tortoise beetles (Cassidinae). The captured beetles are paralyzed and brought into the nest by the females as food for the larvae.
References, further reading, links:
- Rheinheimer, Joachim, & Hassler, Michael: Die Blattkäfer Baden-Württembergs, 2018, 928 pages, Kleinsteuber Books (Karlsruhe), ISBN 978-3-9818110-2-5
- Arved Lompe: Die Käfer Europas - Ein Bestimmungswerk im Internet
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