| Micraspis discolor | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Subfamily: | Coccinellinae |
| Tribe: | Coccinellini |
| Genus: | Micraspis |
| Species: | M. discolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Micraspis discolor ( Fabricius, 1798) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Micraspis discolor is a species of ladybird. [1] It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798. [2] It is widespread throughout Asia, North America and parts of Oceania.
It is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam, United States, Hawaii and Tonga. [3]
Body length is 5 to 6 mm. Adult has a reddish orange body which is oval in shape. There are black stripes on elytra. [4]
It is one of the most common lady beetle found in rice ecosystems particularly during flowering and feeds on pollen. [5] [6] The species can be used as a bio-control agent for brown planthopper. It is found as both entomophagous and phytophagous species of beetle. [7]
Both adult beetles and nymphs are voracious predators on several pests such as, Aphis craccivora , Aphis gossypii , Aphis spiraecola , Leptocorisa acuta , Myzus persicae , Nephotettix cincticeps , Opisina arenosella , Pentalonia nigronervosa and Sogatella furcifera . [3] [8] [9] [10]