Jen C Mars

I passed several of these insects, mistaking them for poop dollops or dried up plant bits, before I saw this one wiggling around on a leaf. Quite the camouflage.

Help with ID would be appreciated.

Update: Two people have suggested poop-armored leaf beetles, which seems likely.

#insects #Nature #MacroPhotography #WhatsThatBug

Jul 13, 2023 at 11:32pmWeb
Show threadJennifedJul 13, 2023
@jencmars Neochlamisus, a genus of leaf beetles. They protect themselves with a coating of feces.
That is more than I wanted to know.
Show threadBryan WrightJul 13, 2023

@jencmars

We found similar things on blackberry leaves. My wife identified them as Case-bearing Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Cryptocephalinae):

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26923507

Case-bearing Leaf Beetles (Subfamily Cryptocephalinae)

Case-bearing Leaf Beetles in June 2019 by clara-c. on blackberry leaf

iNaturalist