This species of beetle is capable of changing its colour when mating or to blend in with its background and avoid predation, just as specialist colour changers such as chameleons do. But it can also change the finish of its colour, for example from a shiny gold to a dull red colour. It does this through an optical illusion whereby tiny grooves in the shell can create a shiny surface when filled with liquid and a dull one when drained.

The golden tortoise beetle also undergoes a metamorphosis from the larval to the adult stage (in the same way that caterpillars morph into butterflies). This process of metamorphosis occurs through cells growing and specialising as the beetle grows to maturity and is brought about by hormonal change.

━━━✧@BIOOZOO✧━━━