| Hippodamia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hippodamia convergens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Tribe: | Coccinellini |
| Genus: | Hippodamia Dejean, 1837 |
| Synonyms | |
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Hippodamia is a genus of ladybirds in the family Coccinellidae. It includes the most common native North American "ladybug", H. convergens , which can form overwintering aggregations numbering in the millions. Another notable member is Hippodamia variegata , which occurs widely over both the North and South Hemispheres.
Contents
Members of the genus tend to share an elongated body form with red or orange elytra, and a black and white pronotum. Many species, particularly in North America, are highly variable to the extent that they cannot be separated without dissection in many cases.
