| Coccinella leonina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Genus: | Coccinella |
| Species: | C. leonina |
| Binomial name | |
| Coccinella leonina (Fabricius, 1775) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Coccinella leonina, common name orange-spotted ladybird, is a species of ladybird native to New Zealand. It is black with orange spots. A predator species, it is present in a variety of habitats. [1]
Coccinella leonina or as its common name of orange spotted ladybird suggests, has 16 yellow/orange spots on its black body, [1] with a squarish yellow/orange spot on both sides above the pronotum on the thorax [2] and then 14 other spots on its black elytra [3] which are larger and mostly separated by 1 mm diameter of the black background at the most. [2] The shade of these spots can vary on different beetles. [4] It also has a paler blotch above its eyes. [2] The legs and underside are black. [3] Its length typically varies between 4.5 and 5.5 mm long. [2] [5] The elytra is an oval shape that is widest in the middle and the abdomen has slightly different shape between male and female. The abdomen is truncate in males and more rounded in females. [2] The orange spotted ladybird is a medium-sized ladybird which has a hemispheric shape. [6]
The orange-spotted ladybird is endemic to New Zealand, and the only species of the Coccinella genus endemic to Australasia. [2] [7]
Orange spotted ladybirds are recorded over the North Island and South Island. [6] It can be found in the Port Hills in Canterbury. [8] It is also found further down in New Zealand's South Island in areas including the Otago Plateau [9] and in Central Otago. [10] They do not occur on the northern part of the mainland, not on the mainland of Auckland, Coromandel or Northland. [5] However, they are found on close offshore Islands to the North Island like Poor Knights Island, Hen Island and Chicken Islands, Mokohinau Islands, Great Barrier Island, Little Barrier Island, inner Hauraki Gulf islands, Mercury Island, Aldermen Island and Mayor Island. [5]
This species can be from subalpine altitudes to as low as sea level [1] [6] and are common in areas where they live. [5] They can be found in tussock grasslands [10] and in vegetation that is low down. [11] It is also found in native bush areas, pastures and crops. [2] They are very common in areas like banks peninsula. [12]
The orange-spotted ladybird sexually reproduces. [13] The mating process begins around September. [4] Oval shaped, yellow-orange eggs are laid by a female ladybird, normally in a cluster laid on the underside of some kind of leaf. [14] The time it takes for the eggs to fully develop is dependent on favorable temperatures. [14] In the few days leading up to the eggs hatching they begin to darken to a greyish colour. [14] Up to 30 eggs can be laid by a female per day, and as many as 1600 to 3800 in a lifetime. [4] Larvae hatch from the eggs by breaking the shell with sharp, circular structures on the back of their head called egg-busters. [13] The larvae of the beetle eat the same food as the adults, the main purpose of this stage of the life-cycle is to eat to grow. [13] In order to molt its skin the larva hangs itself upside down by the anal organ. [14] The larva's skin splits along the dorsal midline. [13] Larvae will molt several times before its last molt, the fourth time it sheds, when the pupa emerges pale and soft, as it gets older it grows a hard, patterned pupal case. [4] During the pupal stage some of the internal tissues and organs are broken down and used in the production of adult body parts including reproductive organs and wings. [13] This would normally take around four to ten days, but can take longer in colder conditions. [13] When the adult beetle emerges its elytra does not yet have its distinctive pattern and is instead matte, soft and pale. [14] It can take up to months for the beetle to reach its full mature appearance [14] After emerging the adult will then either search for food, mate or prepare to hibernate depending on the time of year. An adult ladybird can live from a couple of months to over a year. [15]
As adults, ladybirds spend the winter grouped in hidden and sheltered spots, dispersing in spring to find food and a good place to lay eggs. [4]
The orange-spotted ladybird mainly feeds on aphids, which is common for most ladybird species. [5] Adult ladybirds can eat around 100 aphids per day. [1] They also like to eat other small insects such as mites, mealybugs, scale insects and, [7] as well as other plant matter, some fungi like powdery mildews. [16] This species has a wide range of habitats and is mainly found in areas where aphids are abundant. [2]
Like many other insects, one of the main predators to the orange-spotted ladybird are birds. The shining cuckoo [17] and starlings [18] are examples of birds that are often predators of the orange-spotted ladybird. Another predator is the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, which has recently arrived in New Zealand. [19] They do not prey on orange spotted ladybirds specifically but do eat native ladybirds when they run out of food and as they are much larger can overcome orange spotted ladybirds and easily out-compete with them for resources. [19]
Another species in the same genus found in New Zealand is the introduced eleven-spot ladybird, Coccinella undecimpunctata , which looks quite different from this species. Despite this, it has a similar size and ecological niche. Both species occur in the South Island and south of the North Island, but in the north of the North Island only the introduced species is found. However, it is present on islands in areas where it is absent on the mainland, and may be displaced on the mainland as a result of interspecific competition. [20]
Harmonia axyridis is a large lady beetle or ladybug species that is most commonly known as the harlequin, Asian, or multicoloured asian lady beetle. This is one of the most variable species in the world, with an exceptionally wide range of colour forms. It is native to eastern Asia, but has been artificially introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known, and spreading in those regions, and has also established in Africa and widely across South America. This species is conspicuous in North America, where it may locally be known as the Halloween beetle, as it often invades homes during October to overwinter.
Adalia bipunctata, the two-spot ladybird, two-spotted ladybug or two-spotted lady beetle, is a carnivorous beetle of the family Coccinellidae that is found throughout the holarctic region. It is very common in western and central Europe. It is also native to North America but it has heavily declined in many states and provinces. It is commonly introduced and imported as a biological control agent.
Hippodamia tredecimpunctata, commonly known as the thirteen-spot ladybeetle, is a species of lady beetle.
Coccinella novemnotata, the nine-spotted ladybug or nine-spotted lady beetle or C9, is a species of ladybug in the family Coccinellidae native to North America. This beetle was once ubiquitous across the continent but experienced a sharp and drastic decline around the 1960’s. Now, considered a rare species, the nine-spotted ladybug has received much attention from researchers who wish to understand the causes of its decline and restore the population of this charismatic beetle to benefit from their aphidophagous nature as biocontrol agents in agriculture.
Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spot ladybird, is a carnivorous beetle native to the Old World and is the most common ladybird in Europe. Its elytra are of a red colour, but each punctuated with three black spots, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots, from which the species derives both its common and scientific names.
Propylea quatuordecimpunctata is a small lady beetle, belonging to the family Coccinellidae. It is sometimes referred to by the common name 14-spotted ladybird beetle, or simply P-14.
Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles. They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to mother Mary. Entomologists use the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles to avoid confusion with true bugs. The more than 6,000 described species have a global distribution and are found in a variety of habitats. They are oval beetles with a domed back and flat underside. They are sexually dimorphic; adult females are larger than males. Many of the species have conspicuous aposematic (warning) colours and patterns, such as red with black spots, that warn potential predators that they taste bad.
Coccinella transversalis, commonly known as the transverse ladybird or transverse lady beetle is a species of ladybird beetle found from India across southern and southeastern Asia to Malesia and Australia. It is not to be confused with Coccinella transversoguttata, a widespread species in Europe and North America also known as the transverse ladybird. The alternative vernacular of small transverse ladybird may be used for C. transversalis in instances where these two species are discussed together.
Coccinella undecimpunctata, the eleven-spot ladybird or eleven-spotted lady beetle, it is native to central Asia, though commonly found in Europe, and formerly North America as its populations are decreasing. It is of the family Coccinellidae, commonly referred to as ladybugs or lady beetles.
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, common name mealybug ladybird or mealybug destroyer, is a species of ladybird beetle native to eastern Australia. The beetle feeds on mealybugs and other scale insects, and is used to control those pests on citrus orchards worldwide.
Harmonia conformis, the large spotted ladybird, is a species of ladybird. It has a light reddish appearance and its colouration includes 20 large black spots, 18 of which are found on the elytra. They are quite large for ladybirds, being about 6–7 mm long. It is a predator of other insects, eating aphids as both a larva and imago (adult). It is found in Australia, and has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is common in northern regions. Another member of the same genus, Harmonia antipodum, also occurs in New Zealand. This species, however, is a native and is much smaller and harder to find.
Hoangus venustus, commonly known as the flax ladybird, is a species of ladybird beetle that is native to New Zealand, being found at least in the North Island. It can be found on New Zealand flax (Phormium) and Toetoe, reportedly eating the mealybugs that live there. Previously known as Cassiculus venustus, the valid name of the species is now Hoangus venustus.
Adalia decempunctata, the ten-spotted ladybird or ten-spotted lady beetle, is a carnivorous beetle of the family Coccinellidae.
Calvia quatuordecimguttata, the cream-spot ladybird, is a species of ladybird in the family Coccinellidae. Its distribution is holarctic, it being found in Europe and through the East Palearctic to Japan. It is introduced to North America. This ladybird is generally 4 to 5 millimetres in length and varies in appearance depending on the geographical location. It usually lives in hedgerows and deciduous trees.
Coleomegilla maculata, commonly known as the spotted lady beetle, pink spotted lady beetle or twelve-spotted lady beetle, is a large coccinellid beetle native to North America. The adults and larvae feed primarily on aphids and the species has been used as a biological control agent. Based on name connotation and to avoid confusion with other species also called "spotted ladybeetle", spotted pink ladybeetle is probably the most appropriate common name for this species.
Coccinella magnifica, also known as the scarce seven-spot ladybird, is a species of beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Both the adults and larvae are predators. They are known for their diet of aphids, but will eat many other pests such as soft-scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, and the eggs of many others. A single larvae will eat about 400 medium size aphids during its development to pupal stage. An adult will eat about 300 aphids before it lays its eggs. Approximately 3 to 10 aphids are eaten for each egg laid, and a female will lay from 50 to 300 eggs in her lifetime. More than 5,000 aphids may be eaten by a single adult ladybug in its lifetime. The scarce 7-spot is often found along with nests of wood ants.
Cheilomenes is a genus of ladybirds (Coccinellidae). Like other members of their subfamily they are large typical ladybirds. They are always shiny and often have bright spots on the elytra. The common African species C. lunata is an important predator of the citrus aphid, Toxoptera, and wheat aphid, while C. vicina has been suggested as a biological control agent for the cowpea aphid. Both the larvae and adults are predatory. Freshly emerged larvae consume unhatched eggs, and eventually have a dappled appearance and 6 tubercles on each abdominal segment. Vulnerable stages in the life of C. sexmaculata, including oviposition, hatching, moulting and pupation have been shown to occur after dark, probably as an adaptation to avoid exposure to natural enemies.
Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata is a beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is the only member of the genus Subcoccinella. It has the typical, almost semi-spherical, ladybird shape and is patterned with spots. However it differs from many of the well-known ladybirds in being neither smooth and shiny nor an eater of aphids: the wing-cases look velvety and it eats fungal moulds on plants.
Harmonia testudinaria, commonly known as the tortoise-shelled ladybird, is a species of ladybird belonging to the family Coccinellidae. The tortoise shelled-ladybird occurs in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and Hawaii.
Harmonia octomaculata is a species of ladybird of the family Coccinellidae. It is found throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Micronesia, and Australia.