Golden tortoise beetle – feeding injury on Ipomoea

You can see the distinct round holes on the leaves of a sweet potato vine. If left unchecked, they can riddle the leaves full of holes. Both adults and larvae can feed on the leaves.

Golden tortoise beetles are fond of plants in the morning glory family (Convolvulacae) such as Ipomoea batatas Marguerite (Sweet Potato Vine), Ipomoea tricolor or purpurpea (Morning Glory), Ipomoea alba (Moon Flower) and Ipomoea x multifida (Cardinal Climber). Adults may also feed on weeds such as bindweed, thistles, horse nettle, etc.