Beebalm

Guides

  • Physonota unipunctata

    horsemint tortoise beetle, beebalm tortoise beetle, bergamot tortoise beetle, one-spotted tortoise beetle

    Physonota unipunctata is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the horsemint or beebalm tortoise beetle. The species is native to North America and has been documented from Canada to the United States. Historical taxonomic work from the late 19th century clarified species boundaries among related forms described by early American entomologists. The beetle shows seasonal phenology tied to host plant emergence, with adults appearing in June in the Montreal region.