Nick Upton / Tortoise beetles (Acromis sparsa) Panama

Nick Upton / Female Tortoise beetle guards eggs (Acromis sparsa) Panama

PREMAPHOTOS / Tortoise beetle female guarding her eggs {Acromis sparsa} Brazil tropical rainforest

PREMAPHOTOS / Tortoise beetle female guarding her newly hatched larvae {Acromis sparsa} Brazil tropical rainforest

Paul Bertner / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa), Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, Costa Rica

Mark Moffett / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa) eye to eye with eggs she's guarding, Panama

Mark Moffett / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa) mother using body as a shield to guard her young, Panama

Mark Moffett / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa) mother uses body as shield to guard her young, Panama

Mark Moffett / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa) mother protecting offspring from predatory ants, Panama

Piotr Naskrecki / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa), Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa), Costa Rica

Paul Bertner / Tortoise Beetle (Acromis sparsa) mother guarding larvae, Taironaka Lodge, Colombia