Exochomus quadripustulatus can reach a length of about 4-6 millimeters. It is almost circular, convex and shining, with a flange around the base. The color is quite variable and may change with age. Usually the elytra are black with two larger red comma-shaped spots and two smaller round red spots. The color of these spots can also be orange or yellow, but completely reddish brown specimens may occur.
E. quadripustulatus has strong potential as a biological control in Italy by being a candidate predator of Toumeyella parvicornis, an alien pest that infests stone pines; it has been observed to be more attracted to conspecific and heterospecific ladybugs than Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, another candidate predator, and responds to prey more quickly.[5]
Gallery
Larva
Pupa
Newly emerged adult
Adult, reddish form
References
1 2 McClarin, Jim; Moisset, Beatriz; Entz, Chuck; Quinn, Mike; Moyer, Tim; Belov, V; Parker, Harsi S.; Parker, Abigail (18 September 2006) [Last updated 11 July 2017]. "Species Brumus quadripustulatus - Pine Lady Beetle". Bugguide. Iowa State University.
Isidro (November 9, 2011). "Brumus quadripustulatus". Biodiversidad Online:: Fichas de Especies Identificadas:: Fichas de Coleópteros. El Árbol de la Vida. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
Further reading
Vandenberg, Natalia J. (2002). "Family 93; Coccinellidae Latreille 1807". In Arnett, R.H., Jr.; Thomas, M. C.; Skelley, P. E.; Frank, J. H. (eds.). Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. American Beetles. Vol.2. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press LLC. pp.371–389. doi:10.1201/9781420041231. ISBN978-0-429-12771-7. Google BooksYiPNBQAAQBAJ.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Arnett, Ross H. (2000). American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico. CRC Press. p.462. Google BooksDKzAmSDdLtsC.
Gordon, Robert D. (1985). "The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico". Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 93 (1): 19, 31, 623–624, 636–638. JSTOR25009452.
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