The coloring of the elytra (hardened outer wings) and pronotum (a prominent plate-like structure covering the thorax) is a dark, metallic blue or purple.

[4] The palmetto tortoise beetle is primarily found in the southeastern United States and has been recorded in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

[4] Larva of the palmetto tortoise beetle hide under a nest-like covering of thin strands of frass (fecal matter).

[6] The adults hold themselves on fronds of palmettos with thousands of microscopic bristles on their tarsi ("feet"), paired with an oil that makes them difficult to pry off the leaves.

[6] The female palmetto tortoise beetle lays yellow, elongated eggs in March to mid-April.

[4] Probably the most well-known and notable characteristic of the palmetto tortoise beetle is its ability to cling tenaciously to its leaf when one attempts to pick it off.

Palmetto tortoise beetles have oversized tarsi that are made up of three tarsomeres (tarsal segments) on each of their six legs.

When walking, the beetle will only touch a small fraction of the adhesive bristles to the leaf or substrate, essentially “tip-toeing” as it moves across the surface.

[7] Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy has revealed the presence of small circular pores distributed irregularly throughout the base of the bristles.

[8] This allows the palmetto tortoise beetle to adhere to its leaf or substrate in such a way that it can withstand pulling forces of up to .8 grams, which is approximately 60 times its own body mass, for two minutes.

The beetle can also withstand pulling forces of higher magnitudes (up to 3 grams) for shorter periods of time.

When a strand has been excreted to its full length, the larva will rotate the anal turret upwards until it contacts the fork.

The turret will then secret a droplet of a sticky adherence substance while also pinching off the fecal strand through anal constriction.

Microscopic examination has shown the fecal strands to be membrane-coated or encased in “skin” like sausages which makes them less susceptible to breakage.

Another crucial aspect of this defense mechanism is the fact that the larva and its fecal thatch are anchored to the plant/ substrate at essentially all times.

The female red widow spider, or Latrodectus bishopi, is another successful predator of the palmetto tortoise beetle.