15mm tortoise beetle resting on host plant.
You may find this beetle if you can find its host plant!!
Laccoptera sulcata is monophagous (restricted to one plant species), which is Midnapore Creeper (Rivea hypocrateriformis, Family: Convolvulaceae)
The insect can be easily spotted against the background of green leaves in the field because of bright colouration. It cuts large holes in the leaves of Rivea. When disturbed, the beetle just moves on to another leaf or falls down, but does not attempt to fly.
The larva carries large amount of black faecal matter, mixed with larval exuviae, in the fonri of an inverted, triangular shield that covers nearly the whole body of the larva. The faecal matter is deposited with the help of highly manoeuvrable, telescopic anal tube, which can extend almost up to the head region dorsally.
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