Hippodamia convergens

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Order	Coleoptera
Suborder	Polyphaga
Infraorder	Cucujiformia
Superfamily	Coccinelloidea
Family	Coccinellidae
Subfamily	Coccinellinae
Tribe	Coccinellini
Genus	Hippodamia

Scientific Name

Hippodamia convergens

Common Name

convergent lady beetle

Description

These insects are generally called ladybugs or lady beetles. Like all insects, lady beetles have three body regions; a head, thorax and abdomen. To identify species, examine characters on both the pronotum, a plate that covers the thorax, and the wing covers, which protect the abdomen, for spot and color patterns.

Distinctive Features

Adult: Oval, red. Pronotum with two white dashes angled towards each other forming a ""V"" pattern. Each wing cover with 6 spots; fewer may be present. Larva: Black body with orange markings on the pronotum and light orange spots on the first, fourth, sixth, and seventh abdominal segments.

Life Cycle

Female beetles lay 15-25 yellow oval eggs in clusters on leaves or stems. Eggs hatch into alligator-shaped larvae that are black with orange markings and covered with flexible spines. Larvae feed for 5-8 days and then pupate on plants. The pupal stage lasts 4-6 days before adults emerge.

Prey

Aphids, mites, caterpillars, insect eggs, soft-bodied insects.

Habitat

Can be found on leaves, stems, and flowers; in backyard gardens, crop fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Floral Resources

This lady beetle can feed on pollen and nectar in addition to insect prey.

Distribution

Most states coast to coast between Canada and Mexico.

Origin

Native.

Occurrence

Somewhat Common.

Size

4-7 mm.

Color

Red, white, black.

As a Biological Control

When sold as “lady beetles” or “ladybugs” the species involved is the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens, a native lady beetle found throughout North America. Purchased lady beetles are all field collected insects, captured in high elevation areas of California where they periodically migrate to and mass aggregate, allowing easy collection. Ability of the collected lady beetles to reproduce is suspended (they are in "reproductive diapause") so eggs are not produced for several weeks after release. (Pre-feeding lady beetles prior to release can allow some egg maturation to start and a few companies provide such "pre-conditioned" lady beetles). Lady beetles tend to readily disperse from the area of release. Since they store well, lady beetles are available most of the year, although supplies often are limited by midsummer.

Commercial Suppliers

Company State Country A-1 Unique Insect Control CA USA American Insectaries, Inc. CA USA ARBICO Organics AZ USA The Beneficial Insect Co. NC USA Biofac Crop Care TX USA BioLogic Company PA USA The Bug Factory, Ltd. BC Canada Buglogical Control Systems AZ USA Crop King OH USA Evergreen Growers Supply OR USA Extremely Green Gardening Company MA USA Gardeners Supply Co. VT USA Gardens Alive IN USA Great Lakes IPM, Inc. MI USA Greenfire CA USA Green Home CA USA The Green Spot Ltd. NH USA

Company State Country Heaths Organic Pest Control, Greenhouse, and Nursery NH USA Harmony Farm Supply and Nursery CA USA Hummert International MO USA Hydro-Gardens CO USA Integrated Fertility Management WA USA IPM Laboratories, Inc. NY USA Koppert Biological Systems MI USA MR Durango, Inc. Insectary CO USA Nature Insect Control (NIC) ON Canada Natural Pest Controls CA USA Natures Control OR USA Peaceful Valley Farm Supply CA USA Planet Natural MT USA Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. CA USA Territorial Seed Company OR USA Tip Top Bio-Control CA USA EcoSolutions, Inc. FL USA