Anisostena nigrita
(Olivier, 1808)
black tortoise beetle
Anisostena nigrita, commonly known as the black tortoise beetle, is a leaf beetle in the Chrysomelidae. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range in North America, from Canada to the southern United States. The has been observed feeding on grasses in the Andropogon and Schizachyrium scoparium. It belongs to the tortoise beetle Cassidinae, characterized by a body form adapted for clinging to leaf surfaces.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Anisostena nigrita: /ˌænɪˈsɒstənə nɪˈɡritə/
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Habitat
Associated with grassland and prairie where its plants occur. Found in environments supporting Andropogon and Schizachyrium scoparium, which include open meadows, prairies, and grass-dominated fields.
Distribution
North America. Recorded from Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec. United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Diet
Feeds on Andropogon and Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem).
Host Associations
- Andropogon - food plantgrass
- Schizachyrium scoparium - food plantlittle bluestem
Similar Taxa
- Other Anisostena speciesSimilar body form and preferences; differentiation requires examination of specific morphological characters such as elytral punctation and body proportions.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Anisostena belongs to the tribe Anisostenini within the Cassidinae (tortoise beetles). This tribe is characterized by small, often dark-colored beetles with modified adapted for clinging to grass leaves.