Pest profile

Golden Tortoise Beetle

Charidotella bicolor (Charidotella sexpunctata in iNaturalist) · Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae[2]

Golden tortoise beetles look like tiny drops of gold on morning glories and sweet potatoes, and they're rarely damaging.[1]

Golden tortoise beetle, a small round beetle with shiny metallic gold color and clear edges
Golden tortoise beetle, a small round beetle with shiny metallic gold color and clear edges. (c) florawhite, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Adults are 5 to 7 mm, orange to metallic gold, with clear expanded margins hiding the head and legs.[1]
  • Eggs are white and laid singly under leaves.[1]

Where it lives

It's widespread in eastern North America, west to about Iowa and Texas.[1]

US map: public records from 41 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

In northern states there's usually one generation a year; beetles appear in May or June.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Adults and larvae chew small to medium holes, mostly from leaf undersides; they're rarely abundant enough to cause damage.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants in the morning glory family; UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Control is rarely warranted.[1]

Common questions

What is the shiny gold beetle on my morning glory?
A golden tortoise beetle, sometimes called a goldbug.[1]
Do they hurt sweet potatoes?
Rarely; they're seldom abundant enough to matter.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Golden Tortoise Beetle, Charidotella bicolor (EENY-014).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN140 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Charidotella sexpunctata taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/133439 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.