Yard Bug of the Week

The Thistle Tortoise Beetle, Cassida rubiginosa.

As may be obvious from the images, this critter was just outside my home office window. And I went outside to get the images.

Native to Europe, it was first found in the US in 1902, and has since spread throughout the east and as far west as Wisconsin. And into Canada as well.

It was once used as a control agent against pest thistles, but not so much today. And in some places it is now considered a pest, feeding on economically valuable thistles.

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You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.