I caught this shiny beetle snooping around my house after work yesterday. I have never seen him or his family before, but he is welcome to stay. After some research, it appears that – unlike the invasive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) that has been plaguing my yard – this Tortoise beetle (in the Leaf Beetle family) does not typically kill or drastically harm the plants that it consumes for food. It is not considered a pest.

Here are a few photos:

Mottled Tortoise Beetle, Deloyala guttata

Mottled Tortoise Beetle, Deloyala guttata

Mottled Tortoise Beetle, Deloyala guttata

Mottled Tortoise Beetle, Deloyala guttata