The thistle tortoise beetle (Cassida rubiginosa) is a tortoise beetle, and as such belongs to the leaf beetles. It has a green carapace (despite "Rubiginosus" being latin for "rusty or rust-coloured"). It is a species recorded in Britain and is native to Eurasia. It feeds on Canada thistle and was intentionally introduced to Virginia to control thistles. It has spread to the northern United States, following accidental introduction to Quebec in 1901. In Canada it has also spread to New Brunswick, Alberta, and has been seen as far south as Colorado. \n* \n*