Aphidecta obliterata
Aphidecta obliterata. Dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Coccinellidae
Subfamily:
Coccinellinae
Genus:
Aphidecta
Species:
A. obliterata
Binomial name
Aphidecta obliterata

Aphidecta obliterata (common name larch ladybird, or larch ladybug) is a species of Coccinellidae, a flying beetle.[2]

Varietas

Varietas include:[3]

  • Aphidecta obliterata var. fenestrata Weise
  • Aphidecta obliterata var. illigeri Weise
  • Aphidecta obliterata var. livida Dejean
  • Aphidecta obliterata var. pallida Thunberg
  • Aphidecta obliterata var. sexnotata Thunberg

Distribution

This species is present in Europe, European Russia, the Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, North America, Newfoundland, Virginia and South Carolina.[4][5][6]

Description

Side view of Aphidecta obliterata

Aphidecta obliterata can reach approximately a size of 3.5–5 millimetres (0.14–0.20 in).[7] These tiny beetles have an elongate oval body, with strongly convex elytra, smooth, shiny and densely, finely punctured. Head shows a black arch-shaped marking. Antennae are club-shaped, with 9-11 segments.

The larch ladybirds are beetles with a great variability in color and markings, with several varietas. For example Aphidecta obliterata v. fenestrata has entirely black elytra, while usually they range from tan to brown, often with a pink tinge. They have a dark suture and usually a dark oblique line posteriorly. The pronotum is beige, with four dark brown lines forming a M mark. While other species of ladybugs have prominent spots, this insect has smaller, less distinct spots, or small blotches, if any.[7][8]

Habitat

Larva of Aphidecta obliterata

Aphidecta obliterata inhabits high bogs an peat areas, mainly coniferous and mixed forests[4] (for instance Central European mixed forests, Sarmatic mixed forests) and, especially, in Pinus sylvestris and other temperate needleleaf forests. It is found occasionally in gardens and parks. It is mainly found on Pinus sylvestris and other Pinus species and Picea abies and on Larix decidua occasionally under flakes of bark, under bark, or in moss on the trunks.[7][8][9]

Biology

These beetles have a restricted range of adaptability to changes in ecological conditions. They are aphidophagous, mainly feeding on Lachnidae, Adelgidae and other aphids of pines. The adults can be found in spring and summer.[7] They overwinter in bark crevices and in litter.[4][7] It has been released in the US and Canada for biocontrol of Adelges piceae.[10][11]

Variability of Aphidecta obliterata

References

  1. ↑ Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp
  2. ↑ "Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758)". ITIS. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ Biolib
  4. 1 2 3 N. B. Nikitsky and А. S. Ukrainsky, 2016 The Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Moscow Province ISSN 0013-8738, Entomological Review, 2016, Vol. 96, No. 6, pp. 710–735 ISSN 0013-8738
  5. ↑ Fauna europaea
  6. ↑ Catalogue of life
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Larch Ladybird - Aphidecta obliterate". Nature Spot. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758)". Watford Coleoptera Group. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ Koch, K., Die Käfer Mitteleuropas, Ökologie. Vol. 2 (Goecke und Evers Verlag, Krefeld, 1989).
  10. ↑ Bug Guide
  11. ↑ T.S. Bellows, T.W. Fisher, L.E. Caltagirone, D.L. Dahlsten, G. Gordh and C.B. Huffaker Handbook of Biological Control: Principles and Applications of Biological Control
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