Hippodamia parenthesis

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

Common Name

parenthesis 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 to orange. Pronotum black with white along the front edge. Parenthesis-shaped spot on hind portion of each wing cover. Sometimes parenthesis does not completely connect.Larva: Light colored head and pronotum with light markings. Black abdomen with orange markings on abdominal segments one and four.

Life Cycle

Female beetles lay clusters of yellow oval eggs on leaves or stems. Eggs hatch within 3-5 days into alligator-shaped larvae that are typically black with light markings and covered with flexible spines. There are four larval instars completed in 10-14 days. Larvae then pupate on plant leaves or stems and adults emerge wtihin 5-7 days.

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

3-6 mm.

Color

Red, orange, black.

Acknowledgements

We thank the North Central IPM Center for funding this project and members of the Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group for supplying the bulk of the content. We also acknowledge Michigan State University, Oregon State University, the Xerces Society, and USDA Agricultural Research Services for their support and contributions to the development of this smartphone app.

Some information regarding pollinators and habitat management was adapted with permission from Attracting Native Pollinators, the Xerces Society’s guide to protecting North Americas bees and butterflies. The bulletin "How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PNW 591)" is used with permission, copyright Oregon State University. Information about colony collapse disorder and the value of pollinators to agriculture was excerpted from the USDA ARS website. Images used from Bugwood include the proper citation number.