Asian+Ladybeetle


 * __Asian Ladybeetle__**

Taxonomy: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae Genus: Harmonia Species: axyridis

A common name for the //Harmonia axyridis// is Asian Ladybug, or the Halloween ladybeetle. It is well known in the fall for accumulating on the sides of buildings and slowly crawling its way inside. The beetle is native from eastern Asia, to western Uzbekistan, to southern Himalayas and east to the pacific coast. It was brought over to the US because of its predation on aphids. It was introduced in 1916, and has moved to all of North America, keeping the aphid population under control. (1)

Another common name for this beetle is the ladybug, but entomologists prefer the nickname Lady beetle because as these are insects, they are not true bugs.

Fig 1: Asian Ladybeetle

Description: The Asian Ladybug can be multiple colors, most commonly red, orange or black. The elytra can have anywhere from 0 to 22 black spots, (red spots if the beetle is black). The connection between the elytra and the head are very smooth, giving it a shiny gleam. It is one of the larger species of Coccinellidae. (2) There are over 5,000 species of //Coccinellidae// described in the world.

Life Cycle: //Harmonia axyridis// lay eggs in clusters, these eggs undergo up to four developmental stages before pupating and becoming an adult. There are many factors that effect how many stages that an egg will go through before pupating, weather, the food being consumed by their mother, how many their parents had gone thorough

Fig 2: Ladybird Beetles(Larvae Left, Adult Right)

Predators and Prey: The ladybug is a voracious predator; it is used as a biocontrol agent for aphids, and scale insects. Both the larvae and the adults of //Harmonia axyridis// are well known for being aphid predators. The beetle is very important fore biological control of aphids on crops. (1)

It’s been proved ladybeetles that feed on aphids develop faster, age faster, move fast, typically are larger, and lay their eggs in larger clusters. Ladybeetles that feed largely on scaled insects develop more slowly, move slower, live longer are smaller then their aphids eating counterparts, and lay their eggs in smaller clusters (1).

Ecological importance and human impact: Although //Harmonia axyridis// is not native to the US it is it still very important for use in bio control. Growers of crops have been long concerned with the presence of aphids, aphids can rapidly reproduce and destroy large amounts of crops. Native ladybeetles were not doing enough to help keep the populations at bay. These alien ladybeetles were imported into the US to help with aphid control; in the beginning they were quite helpful. Now native species of ladybeetles are declining due to lack of food, the invasive species are denying the food to the natives. Importation of the beetle has stopped and hopefully it’s numbers will decline. (1)

Created by: Spitler, J.

References:
 * 1) 1. Frank, J. H., and Mizell, R. F., “Ladybird beetles” //Encyclopedia of Entomology//, 2nd edition vol. 4, New York: Springer, 2008. 978-1007, Web. 7 Nov. 2013 <[]>
 * 2) 2. Iowa State University, department of entomology. “Ladybug- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle” //Iowa State University of Science and Technology//. 2005. Web. <[]>

Images:

Fig 1: Asian Ladybeetle [Photograph] Retrieved Nov. 11, from: <[]> Fig 2: Ladybird Beetles [Photograph] Retrieved Nov. 11, from: <[]>