Thistle Tortoise Beetle - Cassida rubiginosa

The elytra are matt green and it often sits with the edges flush to the leaf, leaving no shadow. The specific name rubiginosa refers to the beetle's ability to produce a red liquid from the head.

Rough grassland and similar habitats that contain Creeping Thistle.

This species has the most interesting larvae and pupae. The larvae have twin tail-spikes and these are sometimes used to carry dead skins and droppings in a kind of parasol. The spikes are retained by the pupa and these are flicked forward if it is disturbed.

Fairly common and widespread in England and Wales, fewer records from Scotland.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 53 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.