Saturday Critters: Lady Beetles

Spotted Pink Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)

Ursine Spurleg (Orange-spotted) Lady Beetle
(Brachiacantha ursina)

Three-banded Lady Beetle (Coccinella trifasciata)

Above are the photos of native lady beetle species that I have found on my land over the past 20 years. Only three species of natives! And below are the lady beetle species from the past twenty years on my land that have been introduced to North America over history to rid us of aphids. That hasn't gone so well, has it? But our native population of lady beetles has plummeted because of these new ones: 

Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Now invading Europe.
Chronic Vermont home infestations.
Distinctive smell.
Bad tasting to pets.
They bite.
Usually large, but come in many sizes and color variations.

Instar of Asian Lady Beetle larva

Instar of Asian Lady Beetle larva

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
(Coccinella septempunctata)
European
Established in US in 1973
Official state insect in five different states:
Delaware, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Variegated Lady Beetle (Hippodamia variegata)
European
First found in Québec in 1987

Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle

(Propylea quatuordecimpunctata)

From Europe, North Africa, and Asia

Instar of Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle

Vermont Lady Beetle Species Profiles

After 25 years, Two-spotted Lady Beetle is Rediscovered in Vermont

Submit your critter!
Viewing Nature with Eileen

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