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Lady Beetle

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Lady Beetle

Overview

  • In the order Coleoptera

  • Beneficial predators

  • Usually red/orange with black spots

Diet

  • Aphids

  • Mites

  • Insect eggs

Appearance

  • Round

  • Black, red, orange, yellow

  • Hardened elytra

Benefits

  • Promotes crop growth

  • Reduced need for pesticide

  • Pollinators

Fig. 1: Adult Cryptolaemus,
Fig. 1: Adult Cryptolaemus

Common Name: Mealybug Destroyer

Scientific Name: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

Require temperatures of 70F as they feed on mealybugs (preferred), aphids or scale for 50 d.

 

 

 

Fig. 2A: Cryptolaemus larvae, Fig. 2B: Mealybug Photo Credits: Sonya Broughton, Department of Agriculture & Food Western Australia, Bugwood.org
Fig. 2A: Cryptolaemus larvae, Fig. 2B: Mealybug Photo Credits: Sonya Broughton, Department of Agriculture & Food Western Australia, Bugwood.org
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org
Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org
Melissa Schreiner, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Melissa Schreiner, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Common Name: Asian Lady Beetle

Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis

 

  • 6 generations per year

  • Outcompete native beetles

  • One individual can

  • consume 5,ooo aphids or

  • other pests in its adult life

  • span of about 1 year.

Tom Murray, Bugwood.org
Tom Murray, Bugwood.org

Common Name: Twice Stabbed

Scientific Name: Chilocorusstigma

  • Strong mouthparts that can chew through

  • exoskeletons of other insects

  • Eat the pests that infect plants with disease

  • Protection against predators from tasting bad

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Common Name: Spotted Lady Beetle

Scientific Name: Coleomegilla Maculata

 

  • Six spots and sometimes pink

  • eat pollen as well

  • eat pea, melon, and potato aphids

 

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