Hello Pamela,

To keep Clavate Tortoise Beetles from turning your Michigan garden into their buffet, here are some effective strategies based on university extension sources:

Target Host Plants: These beetles are especially fond of plants in the Solanaceae family—think potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and groundcherries. More information at this link:

Tortoise Beetles - Home and Garden IPM from Cooperative Extension - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

If you’re growing these, keep a close eye on them.

Handpicking: Since they’re rarely present in large numbers, manually removing adults and larvae can be surprisingly effective. More information at this link:

Tortoise Beetles - Home and Garden IPM from Cooperative Extension - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Look for their distinctive dome-shaped bodies and the larvae’s odd habit of carrying frass (insect poop!) as camouflage.

Encourage Natural Predators: Birds and predatory insects may help keep populations in check. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that could harm beneficial species.

Crop Rotation and Clean-Up: Rotate crops annually and remove plant debris at the end of the season to minimize overwintering sites.

Barrier Methods: Floating row covers can physically block beetles from reaching your plants, especially during peak egg-laying periods in spring and summer. More information at this link:

BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Plagiometriona clavata: INFORMATION

If you’re curious about their life cycle or want to see what they look like up close, the BioKIDS profile from the University of Michigan has some great visuals and details. More information at this link:

BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Plagiometriona clavata: INFORMATION

I hope this helps!