Light areas are typically yellow, red, orange or brown, and the spots vary in size and shape and numbers. The wing covers or elytron may be light with dark spots or dark with light spots. Ĭoccinellids are often distinctively coloured and patterned. Larval insects are covered in setae, the abdominal segments in particular each having six divided into pairs, and one to three segmented antennae. The tarsal forumla for adult coccinellids is 4-4-4 or 3-3-3. ![]() As adults, these insects differ from their closest relatives by having five pairs of spiracles on the abdomen a tentorium with separated branches at the front and no bridge no line dividing the frons and clypeus (frontoclypeal suture) maxillary palps with non-needle-shaped tips, divided galea and lacinia smaller molar (flattened) area of the mandile The coxal cavities (holes where the leg articulates with the thorax) that open from the back in the front of the thorax and from the front in the middle of the thorax epimeron (corner plates) on the metathorax with parallel edges The second sternum on the abdomen having femoral lines and a tube-shaped, shipon-like genatilia in the male. DescriptionĬoccinellids generally oval shaped with domed backs and flattened undersides. Names in some other countries may be similar for example, in Germany they are known as Marienkäfer meaning Marybeetle or ladybeetle. Entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles to avoid confusion with true bugs. In the United States, the name was popularly adapted to ladybug. Mary (Our Lady) was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early paintings, and the spots of the seven-spot ladybird (the most common in Europe) were said to symbolise her seven joys and seven sorrows. ![]() The name ladybird originated in Britain where the insects became known as "Our Lady's bird" or the Lady beetle. The name coccinellids, created by Pierre André Latreille, is derived from the Latin word coccineus meaning "scarlet". However, some species such as the herbivorous Mexican bean beetle are agricultural pests. Many coccinellids lay their eggs directly in aphid and scale insect colonies, ensuring their larvae have an immediate food source. The majority of the more than 6,000 described species are generally considered beneficial insects, because many prey on herbivorous hemipterans such as aphids or scale insects, which are agricultural pests. Many of the species have conspicuous aposematic colours and patterns, such as red with black spots, that warn potential predators that they are distasteful. ![]() They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Coccinellidae ( / ˌ k ɒ k s ɪ ˈ n ɛ l ɪ ˌ d iː/) is a widespread family of small beetles.
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