About Chelymorpha cassidea (Fabricius, 1775)
Chelymorpha cassidea (Fabricius, 1775), commonly called the Argus tortoise beetle or milkweed tortoise beetle, is a leaf beetle species that belongs to the family Chrysomelidae. This species is found in both the Caribbean and North America. In North America, it occurs across the continent, in habitats such as meadows and roadsides. It feeds on plant foliage, including the foliage of milkweed, raspberry, maize, and sweet potato. It is capable of completely defoliating entire plants. It also feeds on morning glory, a plant whose leaves are protected by alkaloids. Some alkaloids are nerve poisons that can be deadly to humans and animals. It has been hypothesized that this beetle may store these alkaloids in its body to defend itself against predators.
