This golden beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) is a member of the leaf beetle family and is native to the Americas. It varies in length from 5 to 7 millimeters long and comes in orange and gold and is almost always metallic. This little bug can change its colour when threatened by changing the flow of fluid between the layers of cuticle. It changes from a shiny gold to a dull brown when disturbed.
When this beetle lays eggs its larvae do something odd to protect themselves. It sheds its skin onto a structure called the anal fork which positions over its body as a fecal shield to hide from predators.
No comments:
Post a Comment