Skip to main content
Close

Phytophagous Ladybug

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

16.73, -92.97

Field Notes

Description:

Ladybug beetles are generally considered agriculturally beneficial, but the ladybugs in the Coccinellid subfamily Epilachninae are phytophagous and are major plant feeding pest species which can cause severe economic losses to cucurbitaceous and solanaceous crops. This tiny (3-4 mm), fuzzy black Ladybug has an orange head, antennae, legs and underside (see 5th picture). There is an orange spot on each side of the pronotum. It is covered in a white pubescence. It was also busy feeding on a leaf. In the 6th picture, the feeding marks are clearly visible. I have previously reported another Phytophagous species (Epilachna mexicana) from Veracruz State (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19556168/fullscreen).
See also: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24617459.

Habitat:

Forest, Chorreadero Park, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.

Notes:

This little Coccinellid looks somewhat like the species Azya scutata, which is also small, black and pubescent. However, it is not in the phytophagous Subfamily Epilachninae and I do not know if it is also a phytophagous species.
http://www.coccinellidae.cl/paginasWebPar/Paginas/Coccidulinae_Par_01.p…
http://www.coccinellidae.cl/paginasWebTribus/Azyini/Paginas/Azya_orbige…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

This one looks so much like some of ours (and some were exported for pest control) 7 pages here http://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/imageGallery.php?pageNo=1

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon