Hosts or Prey
Aphids, mites, and eggs, nymphs, and small larvae of various insects
Identification
The adult lady beetle (ladybug or ladybird beetle) is pink with 6 black spots on each wing cover and 2 black spots on the thorax. The body is 1/5 to 1/4 inch (5–6 mm) long and elongate oval when viewed from above and convex when viewed from the side.
Eggs are football shaped and orange to yellow. They are laid on end in groups of a few. Each egg is about 1/25 inch (1 mm) long.
Larvae are blackish with orange or yellow on the thorax and abdomen. First instars are about 1/25 inch (1 mm) long and last (fourth) instars are about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long. The pupa is oval, black and orange, and about 1/5 inch (5 mm) long. It occurs openly glued to plant parts.
Life Cycle
Lady beetles develop through 4 life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult females lay about 200 to more than 1,000 eggs during their 1 to 3 month life span. Eggs usually occur on plants near prey.
Pink spotted lady beetle overwinters in aggregations in organic litter on the ground or other protected places. It is active from late winter through fall. Development time from an egg to reproductive adult is 3 to 4 weeks during warm weather. Pink spotted lady beetle has several generations per year.
Habitat
Pink spotted lady beetle is most common in low-growing plants, such as field crops, garden ornamentals, and vegetables. It can occur almost anywhere aphids or its other prey occur. The presence of flowering plants with nectar and pollen for nourishment increases adult beetle egg laying and longevity and the number of prey eaten.
To improve biological control
- Control ants because they attack lady beetles and other natural enemies.
- Grow flowering insectary plants to provide nectar and pollen to feed adult natural enemies.
- Reduce dustiness that disrupts the activities of natural enemies (e.g., periodically hose off small plants).
- Avoid the application of broad-spectrum, persistent insecticides for all pests because they are toxic to natural enemies.
See Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators for more information.
Species
At least 191 species of lady beetles occur in California. Pink spotted lady beetle is apparently native to the United States. It is comprised of 3 subspecies C. maculata fuscilabris, C. maculata lengi, and C. maculata strenua. These may actually be 3 different species. Coleomegilla maculata strenua is the California species and occurs elsewhere in the Southwestern United States. Pink spotted lady beetle is also called spotted lady beetle or twelve spotted lady beetle.
More Information
- The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico, Journal of the New York Entomological Society
- Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Cornell University
- Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Predation on Pea Aphids Promoted by Proximity to Dandelions, Oecologia
- Species Coleomegilla maculata - Spotted Lady Beetle, BugGuide, Iowa State University
Scientific classification:
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Family: Coccinellidae
