Spotted lady beetle of the ladybugs family is indigenous to different parts of North America. Since several other species are also referred to as spotted lady beetle, they are more commonly called the pink spotted lady beetle to avoid confusion.
Size: 5 – 8 mm (0.19 – 0.inches)
Color: They mostly have a pink body, while those of the subspecies Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris may appear red or bright orange. Each of their elytra is marked with six black spots. The back of their head is yellowish or pink with two triangular black patches.
Other Characteristic Features: The prominent physical features of the pink spotted lady beetle include an oval body and powerful chewing mouthparts.
The larva has a dark coloration, replicating miniature alligators. They have six legs in all, with the third pair having pale pink or yellow spots. The average length of the caterpillar spans about 6mm (0.23 inches).
The pupa has a pale brown appearance with faint black spots. The spotted lady beetle’s larvae attach themselves with their abdomen to the surface of a leaf and pupate there. The pupal phase lasts between 3 and 12 days depending upon the temperature of the surrounding areas.
The spindled-shaped, small eggs have a yellow coloration and do not grow to a length of more than 1 mm (0.03 inches).
| Other Names | Pink spotted lady beetle, twelve-spotted lady beetle |
| Adult lifespan | Not recorded |
| Duration of larval stage | 14 – 16 days |
| Distribution | Throughout North America |
| Habitat | Meadows, gardens, woodlands, crop fields, mostly sitting on leaves and flowers |
| Common Predators | Wasp, fly, dragonflies, spider |
| Seasons active from | April – October |
| Host Plants | Sorghum, alfalfa, wheat, sweet corn, peas, soybean, potato, cotton, bean, apple, tomato, asparagus, and other crops where aphids inhabit |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Mostly aphids alongcol3 soft-bodied insects and their eggs |
The spotted lady beetles do a lot of good to the surroundings since they are instrumental in reducing the aphid population. Becol3s the aphids, as per a certain study, the spotted lady beetle helped to lessen the numbers of the Colorado potato beetles’ eggs and larvae.
Image Source: alchetron.com, fireflyforest.net, bugguide.net, lh6.ggpht.com, val.vtecostudies.org
Spotted lady beetle of the ladybugs family is indigenous to different parts of North America. Since several other species are also referred to as spotted lady beetle, they are more commonly called the pink spotted lady beetle to avoid confusion.
Size: 5 – 8 mm (0.19 – 0.inches)
Color: They mostly have a pink body, while those of the subspecies Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris may appear red or bright orange. Each of their elytra is marked with six black spots. The back of their head is yellowish or pink with two triangular black patches.
Other Characteristic Features: The prominent physical features of the pink spotted lady beetle include an oval body and powerful chewing mouthparts.
The larva has a dark coloration, replicating miniature alligators. They have six legs in all, with the third pair having pale pink or yellow spots. The average length of the caterpillar spans about 6mm (0.23 inches).
The pupa has a pale brown appearance with faint black spots. The spotted lady beetle’s larvae attach themselves with their abdomen to the surface of a leaf and pupate there. The pupal phase lasts between 3 and 12 days depending upon the temperature of the surrounding areas.
The spindled-shaped, small eggs have a yellow coloration and do not grow to a length of more than 1 mm (0.03 inches).
| Other Names | Pink spotted lady beetle, twelve-spotted lady beetle |
| Adult lifespan | Not recorded |
| Duration of larval stage | 14 – 16 days |
| Distribution | Throughout North America |
| Habitat | Meadows, gardens, woodlands, crop fields, mostly sitting on leaves and flowers |
| Common Predators | Wasp, fly, dragonflies, spider |
| Seasons active from | April – October |
| Host Plants | Sorghum, alfalfa, wheat, sweet corn, peas, soybean, potato, cotton, bean, apple, tomato, asparagus, and other crops where aphids inhabit |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Mostly aphids alongcol3 soft-bodied insects and their eggs |
The spotted lady beetles do a lot of good to the surroundings since they are instrumental in reducing the aphid population. Becol3s the aphids, as per a certain study, the spotted lady beetle helped to lessen the numbers of the Colorado potato beetles’ eggs and larvae.
Image Source: alchetron.com, fireflyforest.net, bugguide.net, lh6.ggpht.com, val.vtecostudies.org
