Description of immatures of Chelymorpha reimoseri Spaeth, 1928 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Mesomphaliini).

Immature stages of Chelymorpha reimoseri Spaeth, 1928 are described in detail, including line drawings, chaetotaxy, sculpture of integument, and SEM photos of morphological details. It is the first detailed description of immatures in the genus Chelymorpha Chevrolat, 1836 and the fourth in the tribe Mesomphaliini Chapuis, 1875 which include chaetotaxy of the body. Diagnostic characters for this species in comparison with other described larvae and pupae of the genus Chelymorpha are discussed.

Hiding in plain sight: cuticular compound profile matching conceals a larval tortoise beetle in its host chemical cloud.

Larvae of tortoise beetles are postulated to have fecal shields as the main defensive strategy against predators. Such a device protects beetles both physically and chemically. In order to examine how larvae Chelymorpha reimoseri are protected against predatory ants, which frequently visit extrafloral nectaries in their host plant, the morning glory Ipomoea carnea, we conducted anti-predation bioassays with live 5th instars.