It also infests fall fruit like raspberries, apples, and grapes. Asian Lady Beetle vs. Ladybug. Native to eastern Asia, but now common throughout North America; 5.5-8.5 mm long; Wide range of colors, but most often red or orange with 0-22 black spots; Pronotum is white with black markings that often resemble an “M” or “W”– This is the key distinguishing feature when determining ladybugs vs Asian lady beetles Thus, it is sometimes referred as the Many-named Insect. It varies in color from yellow to red-orange or even black, but it always has lines that curve inward to form an “M” or “W” pattern behind the head. Common Name: Convergent Lady Beetle Latin Name: Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, 1842 (R. Bercha, det.) The beetles of this species are also referred to as the ‘’C-7’’ beetles. With her magical earrings, inhabited by a Kwami named Tikki, she has the power of creation and can transform into the superhero Ladybug. Throughout the winter in the Bay Area, you may see large groups of ladybugs clustering together. As a Biological Control When sold as “lady beetles” or “ladybugs” the species involved is the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens, a native lady beetle … This is one of our native species. While summers are a productive and active season for these beetles, most adult ladybugs of almost all species prefer to collectively hibernate during the winters. On hatching, the Coccinella larvae instantly start feeding on these aphids, thus getting rid of them. They go through four different development stages and eventually attach to the surface of an object and pupate in their final larval membrane. An Asian lady beetle often reaches a length of 7 mm, but a mature lady bug typically reaches a length of 8 to 10 mm. The pupal phase lasts for a week and is quickly followed by mating once the eggs have hatched. Most common is the mealybug destroyer which is sold for control of citrus mealybug and has long been used in California citrus orchards. The convergent ladybug is the most common species of ladybug in North America, and as such has many places to choose for hibernation locations. In their native land, this overwintering home is a rocky outcropping, but in Mississippi, they make do with light-colored buildings. The convergent lady beetle may eat its weight in aphids every day as a larva and consume as many as 50 aphids per day as an adult. The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) can have many spot patterns. AKA: "Ladybird Beetle". The species convergens is further divided into sub-species. In the case of either of these beetle infestations, pesticides that target these specific insects are suggested. The seven-spotted ladybird – coccinella septempunctata, 2. One of the most distinguishing factors of the Convergent Ladybug is the white outline and the two white oval marks on its head. As its name suggests, the beetle is typically spotted in hues of pink and at times in shades of red with black spots splattered all over the body. Lady beetles feed on numerous small insects, and will attack any stage of prey that is small enough to be killed. Basically, think of Asian lady beetles as ladybugs’ evil twins. A single lady beetle may eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. It is one of the few natural enemies that are currently wild-collected from mass aggregations for … Make sure you are not removing native ladybugs! If the Asian lady beetles are inside, vacuum them up using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, or sweep them with a broom into a dustpan and dispose of them. Ladybugs are invertebrates that belong to the family Coccinellidae. 6. Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (08 June 2011). The Hippodamia convergens ladybug. There are more than 450 species of lady beetles in North America. In early summer they migrate to the mountains, particularly to the Sierra Nevada, where they may lay eggs if food… We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. In fact, they consume almost the same amount of plant pollen and nectar as aphids, making pollen a 50% constituent of their diet. Beetles of this species are one of the few beetles of the Coccinellidae family who feed on plant pollen too. Asian lady beetles will bite, and they sometimes secrete a smelly liquid that can affect some people with allergies or asthma. Entomologists believe that these insects display these eye-popping colors as a warning indication to their predators in order to avoid falling prey to them. Native ladybugs are all gentle species that have been displaced by the Asian Lady Beetle. Though the bite is not very painful, some people can have allergic reactions, ranging from eye problems like conjunctivitis ("pink eye") to hay fever, cough, asthma, or hives. Ladybugs are classified into the Insecta (Insects) class, Coccinellidae family, Hippodamia Genus and convergens species. Length-wise, ladybugs vary in sizes based on the species they belong to but the average size of a ladybug is 0.3-0.4 inches. If you ask an Entomologist, they will tell you it’s neither a bird nor a beetle. Other articles where Convergent ladybug is discussed: migration: Insects: One coccinellid, the convergent ladybug (Hippodamia convergens), lives in valley regions of California, where the eggs hatch in March or April and develop into adults one month later. Native to eastern Asia, but now common throughout North America; 5.5-8.5 mm long; Wide range of colors, but most often red or orange with 0-22 black spots; Pronotum is white with black markings that often resemble an “M” or “W”– This is the key distinguishing feature when determining ladybugs vs Asian lady beetles Convergent lady beetle adults are slightly elongated in shape and can range from 4 … Related: Types of Grasshoppers | Types of Lice | Types of Silverfish | Types of Dragonflies. This species can be found in habitats ranging from grasslands, forests, agricultural fields, gardens, and natural parks. Related: Types of Crickets | Types of Earwigs | Types of Mosquitoes | Types of House Flies, 1. The eggs are small and spindle-shaped and are laid near the prey in upright batches of fifteen to thirty eggs. These insects are commonly found in Western Europe and are actively used as biological control agents against aphid outbreaks. Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, a medium sized orange and black species that is commonly sold for biological control of aphids. Lady beetles are voracious feeders and may be numerous where prey are plentiful and broad-spectrum insecticide use is limited. Asian lady beetle is a beneficial insect in the field and nuisance pest in homes. Appearance wise, these insects are mostly red, sometimes orange in color, and dotted with thirteen dark or black splotches, hence the name “thirteen-spot ladybug”. The Thirteen-spotted Ladybug, better known as the hippodamia tredecimpunctata, is another type of ladybug. It was introduced intentionally into North America in the middle 20th century to combat aphid pests, and it is now established on our continent. Preferring Ladybird Beetle or Lady Beetle seems to be more like a compromise.As they would most likely refer to them by their Entomologists name Coccinellidae. These insects can also be located in areas other than their native regions like Australia, India, South Africa, China, Kenya, Canada, the US, and Chile. Ladybugs are commonly found in every part of the world. The best plan of action is to remove the Asian lady beetles when you see them, and offer the native species a safer environment. The ladybug species is indigenous to the Palearctic region, but also inhabits the Nearctic and oriental areas. Asian lady beetles prefer aphids, but will eat other ladybug species and will infest fall fruit like grapes, apples and raspberries. If the bug has a small white 'M' marking in that spot, that's a telltale sign you're dealing with an invasive species.They also have larger white "cheek" markings and have more white on their heads overall. Lady Beetles after a few minutes of photographing. This is usually the type of ladybug that is collected and sold as a natural pest control for gardeners. Their elytra are colored bright red and dotted with three black spots each, with one additional dot spread over the junction of the two, totaling the number of spots to seven; thus, giving this species both its common as well as scientific names. The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, is among the most common lady beetle species throughout North America and is an important natural enemy of aphids, scales, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects. California Lady Beetle (Coccinella californica) The California ladybug is a type of lady beetle that … The easiest way to tell Asian lady beetles apart from ladybugs at a glance is to look for the white “M” (see above). The ladybug made short work of the pests and I was able to harvest poppy seeds. Appearance. A few measures that can be taken for the conservation of ladybugs and maximization of their impacts include recognizing different development stages of their life cycles and ensuring that these phases are not disturbed. Ladybugs look very similar to another insect from the same part of the world as the Japanese Beetle: the Asian lady beetle. The Asian lady beetles have a white segment across their heads with black markings in the shape of “M” over the white segments. The Convergent Lady Beetle is also known by the name(s) of: Convergent Lady Bug.The Convergent Lady Beetle is typically 0.1 inches to 0.3 inches (4mm to 8mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: spotted; orange; black; white; yellow; gray; grey. Adult convergent lady beetles measure 4-7 mm (<1/4 inch) long and have orange to red forewings, with up to 13 black spots; however, many individuals have fewer spots and some have none. They are natural enemies of many insects, especially aphids and other sap feeders. The native ladybug only eats soft-bodies plant pests like aphids or insect eggs that are laid on leaves. So in cases of aphid outbreaks, ladybugs are introduced in crop areas in order to eliminate these crop-harming insects by feeding on them and acting as pest controls. Seven-spotted lady beetle adults (pictured above) may consume several thousand aphids in its lifetime. The Convergent Lady beetle has a unique life cycle in that it can alter its reproduction rate according to the availability of aphids. If you spot a ladybug in your garden, try to snap a clear picture of it. Also, contrary to the usual groups of 15-30 small eggs laid by the other ladybugs, the thirteen spotted ladybirds lay eggs in groups of 10 – 50 on the lower surfaces of leaves. These ladybugs range from 4-7 mm in length and generally have 0-13 spots. For that reason, many of us may want to know how to distinguish an orange ladybug from a red ladybug and how to avoid infestations of beetle pests. MISSISSIPPI STATE -- One of the friendly bugs is about to become rather unfriendly. Ladybugs are known for their colorfully spotted bodies but what most people fail to realize is the reason for these bright colors. This not only protects the crops from the aphids but also from the harmful insecticides and pesticides that would otherwise harm both the aphids as well as the crops. Asian lady beetles “bite” by scraping the skin they land on, and leave a yellow, foul-smelling liquid on surfaces where they gather. Ladybirds have significantly influenced different cultures around the globe. Rosie Wolf Williams is a Vermont-based writer with credits in business profiles, veterinary and agriculture, natural health, general interest, automotive, hardware, DIY, innovation and trends. Start gardening – Lady beetles are great for your garden! Nonnative Lady Beetles, like the ubiquitous Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle, can displace a native Convergent Lady Beetle population. Worst of all, Asian lady beetles will attempt to enter your home when they look for overwintering shelters. Larvae reproduction depends on the particular species of Coccinella, a few ladybugs species may have several generations each breeding season (in the spring and summer) while others may only have a single generation. Stop raking the leaves on your farm. They are beetles, which are an order of the insect class of animals. These ladybugs do this in order to prepare themselves for the long winter hibernation period and so do not breed or feed within the houses they invade. Adult convergent lady beetles measure 4-7 mm (<1/4 inch) long and have orange to red forewings, with up to 13 black spots; however, many individuals have fewer spots and some have none. **As of 7/31/2020, due to heat, sizes 4,500 and larger require Overnight shipping. The Convergent Ladybug Beetle is the most common of all ladybugs. Lady Beetles spend the winter as adults, and lay their eggs in the following summer. Ladybugs also tend to secrete a certain odorous and noxious liquid from their leg joints, which helps in giving them an unsavory taste, once again making them unappealing to their predators. Most of the foreign countries that these insects are found in are introduced to ladybugs as means of a planned proposal to biologically control crop pests. Convergent lady beetle adults are slightly elongated in shape and can range from 4 … Length: 4 - 7 mm Range: Throughout Alberta Habitat: Various Time of year seen: June to September (Additional Sightings) Diet: Aphids Other: There are many species of lady beetles found in Ohio, but the most common ones are listed in the tables below. The ones believed to have brought you good luck if you ever managed to catch one. One of the most common ladybugs in North America, the Convergent gets its name from the white dashes on the pronotum/prothorax. So whether it is the different species of ladybugs, their habitat, lifecycle, or cultural influence that interests you, this article would surely have left you well informed about these cute little beetles.