Harmonia testudinaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Harmonia
Species:
H. testudinaria
Binomial name
Harmonia testudinaria
(Mulsant, 1850)
Synonyms
  • Daulis testudinaria Mulsant, 1850
  • Callineda testudinaria (Mulsant, 1850)
  • Neda testudinaria (Mulsant, 1850)

Harmonia testudinaria, commonly known as the tortoise-shelled ladybird, is a species of ladybird belonging to the family Coccinellidae. The tortoise shelled-ladybird occurs in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and (via introduction) Hawaii.[1][2][3]

Description

Adult H. testudinaria are beetles about 6 mm long and yellow/light orange with a black net pattern on the elytra.[4][5] There are also two black stripes running across the pronotum.[1] Adults are entirely yellow when they first emerge, developing their black markings later.[1][5] There is some intraspecific variation, with adults from New Guinea generally having elytra mostly of one colour except for a black suture and small black spots at the elytral bases.[2]

The larvae are brownish with some creamy markings, while the pupae are orange-yellow.[1][5]

Habitat

This species can be found on the leaves and stems of plants.[3][5]

Diet

Tortoise-shelled ladybirds feed on aphids and other insects.[5] One of their prey species is the giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus.[6]

Life cycle

Harmonia testudinaria begin their life cycle as eggs laid on suitable plants. These hatch into larvae, which moult several times before becoming pupae. After a few days, adults emerge from pupae.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tortoise-shelled Ladybird (Harmonia testudinaria)". www.ozanimals.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  2. 1 2 Bielawski, R. (1964-07-12). "A review of the New Guinean species of the genus Harmonia Muls Coleoptera Coccinellidae". Pacific Insects. 6: 5–13.
  3. 1 2 Australia, Atlas of Living. "Species: Harmonia testudinaria". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  4. ↑ "Let's Talk Ladybird Beetles! | The Seed Collection". TheSeedCollection. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ladybirds in our Catchment". www.moggillcreek.org.au. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  6. ↑ "Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant willow aphid) identification, images, ecology". influentialpoints.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.