Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella Sexpunctata) Stock Photo

The golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) is a species of beetle in the leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae. The beetle is 5 to 7 millimeters in length. It is variable in color from orange to gold and it is often metallic, earning it the nickname goldbug. Its external margins are expanded and lack pigmentation, becoming nearly transparent. The color changes seasonally, and the beetle can change color when threatened by changing the flow of fluid between the layers of its cuticle. It turns from shiny gold to dull brown when disturbed.