Finally got to see one

[arachyd]

I've heard of them and read about them but this is the first time in <cough> years I've ever seen one in real life.
Gold Tortoise Beetle, Gold Bug, and a dozen other names exist for Metriona bicolor (at least I'm pretty sure that's what it is).

It was so shiny I thought someone had dropped a gold earring in the grass until I picked it up.

 

[cacoseraph]

congrats!

i got to see my first tortoise beetle a week ago. not a goldie though! very awesome!

 

[spydrhunter1]

If you want to see lots of them plant a few sweet potatoes in the vegetable garden...the year I planted them the beetles were almost pestiferous.

 

[arachyd]

I've always had plenty of sweet potato and morning glory in my yard but never seen them. Maybe they've been there but just not this color when I've looked. The pic really doesn't do it justice. It was so bright it was hard to see clearly, like trying to look at a diamond in the sunlight.

 

[Moltar]

Very cool little beetle! Curious, I can't imagine how being that shiny would be of any evolutionary benefit. A hungry bird could see it from pretty far away...

 

[cacoseraph]

shiny would reflect a lot of heat, maybe increasing the range it can inhabit southerly

maybe shiny things don't register as food for most animals



i want to breed these as a little feeder i still need to finish researching them and find enough to get a colony going at more than glacial start up pace

 

[rm90]

Very cool, thank you for the pic. Shiny bugs are teh pwn!

 

[jacksun]

That is one cool looking beetle. Although I also have to ask why the bright color, maybe the reflection makes it look bigger?