Coccinella septempunctata
Seven-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 Coccinella Species septempunctata (Seven-spotted Lady Beetle) |
septem (L) = "seven"
punctata (L) = "pointed" |
Native to Europe
|
Introduced repeatedly between 1956 and 1971 to control aphids
Became established in 1973 Synthesizes alkaloid with bitter taste, coccinelline, to deter predators; fluid secreted from leg joints |
Range: Nearctic & Palearctic
Season: |