Exochomus quadripustulatus

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Exochomus quadripustulatus
Exochomus quadripustulatus01.jpg
Adult Exochomus quadripustulatus
Scientific classification
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E. quadripustulatus
Binomial name
Exochomus quadripustulatus
Synonyms
  • Coccinella quadripustulata Linnaeus, 1758
  • Brumus quadripustulatus
  • Exochomus quadripustulatus var. bilunulatusWeise, 1879
  • Exochomus quadripustulatus var. koltzeiWeise, 1879
  • Exochomus quadripustulatus var. reitteriSchneider, 1881
  • Exochomus quadripustulatus var. sexpustulatusKraatz, 1873
  • Exochomus quadripustulatus var. vittatusFuente, 1910
  • Coccinella lunulataGmelin, 1790
  • Coccinella quadriverrucataFabricius, 1792
  • Coccinella cassidoidesDonovan, 1798
  • Coccinella distinctaBrullé, 1832
  • Coccinella floralisMotschulsky, 1837
  • Coccinella ibericaMotschulsky, 1837

Exochomus quadripustulatus, commonly known as the pine ladybird or pine lady beetle, is a species of beetle of the family Coccinellidae. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

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.

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic, and in the Near East. It was first recorded in Ireland (County Armagh) in 2014. [4] It was introduced to San Francisco between 1915 and 1930 to control the hemlock woolly adelgid, and has since spread across the west coast of North America from California to British Columbia. It is also present in Massachusetts. [1] [2]

This fairly common ladybug can be found from April to October especially on conifers and in areas with deciduous trees.

Ecology and biological control

The pine ladybird in both adult and larval stages preys on aphids and scale insects, especially Diaspidiotus perniciosus . Adults overwinter.

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]

References

  1. 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.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey (2013). "Brumus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. doi:10.5066/F7KH0KBK. Taxonomic Serial No.: 692613.
  3. "Pine Lady Beetle : Brumus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus 1758)". Encyclopedia of Life. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
  4. Foster, Stephen; Nelson, Brian; Anderson, Roy (December 2018). "Pine ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus) (Coccinellidae) new to Ireland". The Coleopterist . 27 (3): 114. ISSN   0965-5794. Web of Science ZOOREC:ZOOR15503017546.
  5. Di Sora, Nicolò; Rossini, Luca; Contarini, Mario; Virla, Eduardo Gabriel; Speranza, Stefano (June 2024). "Are the ladybugs Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) candidate predators of Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)?" . Pest Management Science. 80 (6): 2881–2891. Bibcode:2024PMSci..80.2881D. doi:10.1002/ps.7996. ISSN   1526-498X. PMID   38353313.

Further reading