Cassidinae Checklist: Tortoise Beetles
Tortoise beetles belong to the subfamily Cassidinae. They are characterised by a broad domed oval shaped elytra, like that of a tortoise shell. The larvae are flattened and spiny, often with a swollen “tail” which is an accumulation of their excrement and shedded exoskeletons.
Most species in this page were identified with the kind assistance of Michael Geiser, Dominik Hofer and Rob Westerduijn on Facebook.
All photos are of live subjects shot in the field, with the dorsal view selected where available. Click on individual photos for larger views and views from other angles. As specimens were not collected, identifications were done purely based on photographs and may not be 100% accurate.
Some useful references:
This page will be updated regularly, please let me know if you spot any mistakes.
View my complete Flickr photo set: Cassidinae – Tortoise Beetles.
Region Filters
Click on any region to show only records from that region.
- Singapore (22 Photos)
- Malaysia (14 Photos)
- West Malaysia (5 Photos)
- East Malaysia (9 Photos)
- Thailand (6 Photos)
- Indonesia (2 Photos)
- Mozambique (1 Photo)
- Belize (4 Photos)
- Peru (2 Photos)
- Ecuador (7 Photos)
Class: Insecta Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Aspidimorphini Chapuis, 1875 Tribe: Basiprionotini Gressitt, 1952 Tribe: Callispini Chapuis, 1875 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Coelaenomenoderini Weise, 1911 Tribe: Gonophorini Chapuis, 1875 Tribe: Hemisphaerotini Monrós & Viana, 1951 Tribe: Hispini Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Imatidiini Chapuis, 1875 Tribe: Notosacanthini Hincks, 1952 4 more...58 Photos
Ecuador: Cassidinae P6154363
Thailand: Cassidinae PB215399
East Malaysia: Cassidinae P7073441
Tribe: Aspidimorphini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Aspidimorphini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Aspidimorpha Hope, 1840 Genus: Laccoptera Boheman, 18557 Photos
Genus: Aspidimorpha Hope, 1840 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Aspidimorphini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Aspidimorpha Hope, 18406 Photos
Singapore: Aspidimorpha deusta (Fabricius, 1775)
Mozambique: Aspidimorpha cf. ertli Spaeth, 1906
East Malaysia: Aspidimorpha cf. furcata (Thunberg, 1789)
Singapore: Aspidimorpha cf. furcata (Thunberg, 1789)
Singapore: Aspidimorpha miliaris (Fabricius, 1775)
Thailand: Aspidimorpha sp.
Genus: Laccoptera Boheman, 1855 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Aspidimorphini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Laccoptera Boheman, 18551 Photo
Singapore: Laccoptera nepalensis (Boheman, 1855)
Tribe: Basiprionotini Gressitt, 1952 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Basiprionotini Gressitt, 1952 Genus: Basiprionota Chevrolat, 18361 Photo
Genus: Basiprionota Chevrolat, 1836 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Basiprionotini Gressitt, 1952 Genus: Basiprionota Chevrolat, 18361 Photo
Thailand: Basiprionota sp.
Tribe: Callispini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Callispini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Callispa Baly, 18581 Photo
Genus: Callispa Baly, 1858 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Callispini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Callispa Baly, 18581 Photo
Singapore: Callispa elegans Baly, 1876
Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Cassida Linnaeus, 1758 Genus: Charidotella Weise, 1896 Genus: Charidotis Boheman, 1854 Genus: Chiridopsis Spaeth, 1922 Genus: Hybosa Duponchel, 1842 Genus: Ischnocodia Spaeth, 1942 Genus: Malayocassis Spaeth, 1952 Genus: Plagiometriona Spaeth, 1899 Genus: Rhacocassis Spaeth, 1904 Genus: Silana Spaeth, 1914 2 more...15 Photos
Genus: Cassida Linnaeus, 1758 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Cassida Linnaeus, 17583 Photos
Singapore: Cassida cf. circumdata (Herbst, 1799)
Thailand: Cassida sp.
Thailand: Cassida sp.
Genus: Charidotella Weise, 1896 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Charidotella Weise, 18961 Photo
Ecuador: Charidotella sp. P6067305
Genus: Charidotis Boheman, 1854 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Charidotis Boheman, 18541 Photo
Ecuador: Charidotis ambigua Boheman, 1855
Genus: Chiridopsis Spaeth, 1922 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Chiridopsis Spaeth, 19221 Photo
Singapore: Chiridopsis scalaris (Weber,1801)
Genus: Hybosa Duponchel, 1842 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Hybosa Duponchel, 18421 Photo
Ecuador: Hybosa sp.
Genus: Ischnocodia Spaeth, 1942 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Ischnocodia Spaeth, 19422 Photos
Belize: Ischnocodia annulus (Fabricius, 1781)
Belize: Ischnocodia annulus (Fabricius, 1781)
Genus: Malayocassis Spaeth, 1952 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Malayocassis Spaeth, 19521 Photo
East Malaysia: Malayocassis hilaris (Boheman, 1855)
Genus: Plagiometriona Spaeth, 1899 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Plagiometriona Spaeth, 18991 Photo
Ecuador: Plagiometriona phoebe (Boheman, 1855)
Genus: Rhacocassis Spaeth, 1904 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Rhacocassis Spaeth, 19041 Photo
East Malaysia: Rhacocassis flavoplagiata (Baly, 1863)
Genus: Silana Spaeth, 1914 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Silana Spaeth, 19141 Photo
Singapore: Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856)
Genus: Thlaspida Weise, 1899 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Thlaspida Weise, 18991 Photo
West Malaysia: Thlaspida biramosa (Boheman, 1855)
Genus: Thlaspidosoma Spaeth, 1901 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Cassidini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Thlaspidosoma Spaeth, 19011 Photo
Indonesia (Kalimantan): Thlaspidosoma dohrni Spaeth, 1901
Tribe: Coelaenomenoderini Weise, 1911 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Coelaenomenoderini Weise, 1911 Genus: Javeta Baly, 18581 Photo
Genus: Javeta Baly, 1858 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Coelaenomenoderini Weise, 1911 Genus: Javeta Baly, 18581 Photo
West Malaysia: Javeta sp. P1230769
Tribe: Gonophorini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Gonophorini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Agonita Strand, 1942 Genus: Gonophora Chevrolat, 18366 Photos
Genus: Agonita Strand, 1942 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Gonophorini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Agonita Strand, 19421 Photo
East Malaysia: Agonita sp. P3114140
Genus: Gonophora Chevrolat, 1836 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Gonophorini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Gonophora Chevrolat, 18365 Photos
West Malaysia: Gonophora haemorrhoidalis (Weber, 1801)
West Malaysia: Gonophora haemorrhoidalis (Weber, 1801)
Indonesia (Kalimantan): Gonophora haemorrhoidalis (Weber, 1801)
Singapore: Gonophora pulchella Gestro, 1888
East Malaysia: Gonophora sp. DSC_3753
Tribe: Hemisphaerotini Monrós & Viana, 1951 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Hemisphaerotini Monrós & Viana, 1951 Genus: Spaethiella Barber & Bridwell, 19401 Photo
Genus: Spaethiella Barber & Bridwell, 1940 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Hemisphaerotini Monrós & Viana, 1951 Genus: Spaethiella Barber & Bridwell, 19401 Photo
Peru: Spaethiella sp.
Tribe: Hispini Gyllenhal, 1813 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Hispini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Dactylispa Weise, 18975 Photos
Genus: Dactylispa Weise, 1897 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Hispini Gyllenhal, 1813 Genus: Dactylispa Weise, 18975 Photos
East Malaysia: Dactylispa bipartita (Guérin-Méneville, 1830)
East Malaysia: Dactylispa cf. bipartita (Guérin-Méneville, 1830)
East Malaysia: Dactylispa sp. DSC_6865
Singapore: Dactylispa sp. DSC_3168
Singapore: Dactylispa sp. DSC_1603
Tribe: Imatidiini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Imatidiini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Aslamidium Borowiec, 19841 Photo
Genus: Aslamidium Borowiec, 1984 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Imatidiini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Aslamidium Borowiec, 19841 Photo
Peru: Aslamidium cf. bolivianum Borowiec & Sassi, 2001
Tribe: Notosacanthini Hincks, 1952 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Notosacanthini Hincks, 1952 Genus: Notosacantha Chevrolat, 18362 Photos
Genus: Notosacantha Chevrolat, 1836 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Notosacanthini Hincks, 1952 Genus: Notosacantha Chevrolat, 18362 Photos
West Malaysia: Notosacantha circumdata (Wagener, 1881)
Singapore: Notosacantha rufa (Wagener, 1881)
Tribe: Oncocephalini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Oncocephalini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Oncocephala Agassiz, 1846 Genus: Prionispa Chapuis, 18752 Photos
Genus: Oncocephala Agassiz, 1846 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Oncocephalini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Oncocephala Agassiz, 18461 Photo
Singapore: Oncocephala sp. DSC_7681
Genus: Prionispa Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Oncocephalini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Prionispa Chapuis, 18751 Photo
Thailand: Prionispa sp. P5262088
Tribe: Physonotini Spaeth, 1942 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Physonotini Spaeth, 1942 Genus: Platycycla Boheman, 18541 Photo
Genus: Platycycla Boheman, 1854 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Physonotini Spaeth, 1942 Genus: Platycycla Boheman, 18541 Photo
Belize: Platycycla deruta Boheman, 1854
Tribe: Sceloenoplini Uhmann, 1930 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Sceloenoplini Uhmann, 1930 Genus: Sceloenopla Chevrolat, 18362 Photos
Genus: Sceloenopla Chevrolat, 1836 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Sceloenoplini Uhmann, 1930 Genus: Sceloenopla Chevrolat, 18362 Photos
Ecuador: Sceloenopla sp. P6099797
Ecuador: Sceloenopla sp. P6111603
Tribe: Spilophorini Chapuis, 1875 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Spilophorini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Calyptocephala Chevrolat, 18361 Photo
Genus: Calyptocephala Chevrolat, 1836 Subfamily: Cassidinae Gyllenhal, 1813 Tribe: Spilophorini Chapuis, 1875 Genus: Calyptocephala Chevrolat, 18361 Photo
Belize: Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman, 1862
Eggs
Singapore: Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856)
Larvae
Singapore: Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856)
Singapore: Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856)
Singapore: Unidentified
Singapore: Aspidimorpha cf. miliaris (Fabricius, 1775)
Singapore: Aspidimorpha deusta (Fabricius, 1775)
Pupae
Singapore: Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856)
Singapore: Aspidimorpha sp.
Singapore: Aspidimorpha deusta (Fabricius, 1775)
Pedro Castillo carrillo
Excelente
Nate Sorensen
Hello Nicky you have a nice arrangement of Beatles here! I found one today that I cannot find anywhere on Google I was wondering if you had an idea it’s a type of Is tortoise beetle but I have not seen anything exactly like it on Google. If you would like to email me back to see a picture dear picture I could send it to you.. Thank you…nate