Exochomus quadripustulatus, common name pine ladybird or pine lady beetle, is a species of beetle of the family Coccinellidae.[1][2][3] The distribution range of E. quadripustulatus includes Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America.[2]
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| Adult Exochomus quadripustulatus | |
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| Species: | E. quadripustulatus
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| Exochomus quadripustulatus | |
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Description
editExochomus quadripustulatus can reach a length of about 4-6 millimeters. It is almost circular, convex and shining, with a flange around the base. The color is quite variable and may change with ageing. Usually elytra are black with two larger red comma-shaped spots and two smaller red round or oval spots. The color of these spots can also be orange or yellow, but completely reddish brown specimens may occur. The pine ladybird in both adult and larval stages preys aphids and scale insects, especially Diaspidiotus perniciosus. Adults overwinter.
Distribution
editThis species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic realm, and in the Near East. It was first recorded in Ireland (County Armagh) in 2014.[4]
Habitat
editThis fairly common ladybug can be found from April to October on conifers and in areas with deciduous trees, but it can also occur elsewhere.
Ecology/Biological Control
editExochomus quadripustulatus helps with biological control in infested areas by being a candidate predator of Toumeyella parvicornis, an alien pest that infests stone pines; it has been observed to be more attracted to conspecific and heterospecific ladybugs than Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, another candidate predator, and responds to prey more quickly.[5]
Gallery
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Larva -
Pupa -
Newly emerged adult -
Adult, reddish form -
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References
edit- ^ bugguide.net Brumus quadripustulatus species information.
- ^ a b Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life Brumus quadripustulatus species overview.
- ^ Foster, S.; Nelson, B.; Anderson, R. (2018). "Pine ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus) (Coccinellidae) new to Ireland". The Coleopterist. 27 (3): 114.
- ^ Di Sora et al. (2024). "Are the ladybugs Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) candidate predators of Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)?", Pest Management Science, 80(6), p.2881-2891. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7996
External links
edit- NCBI Taxonomy Browser, Brumus quadripustulatus
- Stippen.nl Archived 2018-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Nature Spots
- Bug Guide
- Isidro (November 9, 2011). "Brumus quadripustulatus". BIODIVERSIDAD ONLINE :: FICHAS DE ESPECIES IDENTIFICADAS :: FICHAS DE COLEÓPTEROS. EL ÁRBOL DE LA VIDA. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
Further reading
edit- American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea, Arnett, R.H. Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.). 2002. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida.
- American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico, Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
- Kovár, Ivo (1995). Revision of the Genera Brumus Muls. and Exochomus Redtb. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of the Palaearctic Region. Part I. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, vol. 44, 5–124.
- Peterson Field Guides: Beetles, Richard E. White. 1983. Houghton Mifflin Company.
- The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico, Robert D. Gordon. 1985. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, Vol. 93, No. 1.
- Vandenberg, Natalia J. / Arnett, Ross H. Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank, eds. (2002). Family 93; Coccinellidae Latreille 1807. American Beetles, vol. 2; Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea, 371–389.
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