Paranaemia is a genus of lady beetles in the subfamily Coccinellinae. There is one described species in Paranaemia, P. vittigera, the broad-striped lady beetle.[1][2][3] The broad-striped lady beetle is native to western North America.[4]
Taxonomy
First described by Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in 1843, P. vittigera was considered within the genus Hippodamia.[5] Then in 1899, Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr. described the monobasic genus Paranaemia by contrasting P. vittigera's basally toothed claws with the bifid claws of Hippodamia specimens.[6] He named the species after its characteristic "vittae" which are the black stripes found on its elytra.
A more modern study using molecular analysis with 5 nuclear genes and 1 mitochondrial gene supports Casey's morphologically based hypothesis by placing Paranaemia in an entirely separate clade from Hippodamia.[7]
Description
Adults have an elongate, dorsoventrally flattened body that reaches a length of about 4.5-6.6 mm. They have elytra that can range from yellow to pink with three black vittae and a black head.[8][9] The pronotum matches the color of the elytra has two large triangular black spots.[9]
An adult's characteristic vittae can result in confusion with Hippodamia and Macronaemia specimens. However, they can be distinguished by their margined pronotal base.[8]
Habitat and distribution
Its habitat can range from plants near riverbanks, streams, and other wetlands to meadows, grasslands and among agricultural field crops.[10][11]
P. vittigera is omnivorous, feeding on plant matter as well as aphids and other soft-bodied insects.[9][10][14] However, it has been found in Mexico to be less voracious and a slower forager when compared to other nearby native lady beetle species such as Hippodamia convergens and Cycloneda sanguinea as well as invasive lady beetles like Harmonia axyridis.[14]
The adults are known to be parasitized by nematodes of the family Mermithidae and mites of the genus Coccipolipus.[12]
They are also known to show strong tendencies of monospecific aggregation.[15]
References
↑"Paranaemia Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
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