Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Coleoptera (Beetles) Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles) Superfamily Cucujoidea Family Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles) Subfamily Coccinellinae Genus Propylea Species quatuordecimpunctata (Fourteen- spotted Lady Beetle) |
Remarks Repeated introduction attempts prior to the 1960s were unsuccessful. The first established population was accidentally introduced in the 1960s via European ships stopping at ports along the St. Lawrence River (first reported near Quebec City in 1968). During 1987-1993, more than half a million lab-reared individuals were released in 16 western US states to control the Russian Wheat Aphid but follow-up surveys have not detected any established populations.
Males and females can be told apart by the white markings on the head: males have solid white "face," females have a dark spot in the middle. |
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quatourdecim, "fourteen" + punctata, "spotted"
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Yellow elytra (wing covers) with rectangular black spots unlike any native North American lady beetle.
Head black with pale "face." Pronotum (hard shell behind head) black with pale anterior and lateral border (front and sides). Elytra usually with 14 black spots, but may be fused together near midline. Larva: Black with white markings. White "face" and leg joints. Most important ID feature is small pointed projection from last abdominal segment: |
Range native to the Palaearctic, adventive and widespread in e. NA (southeastern Canada to Great Lakes and Florida), and still spreading; however, repeated intentional releases have not resulted in established populations(2) Habitat gardens, lawns, fields, vacant lots Food Aphids Life Cycle Pale green eggs hatch into alligator-like black larvae with white markings. Larvae feed on aphids for 8-10 days and pupate. The adult beetle emerges 4-5 days later.
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