Thirteen-point ladybug
| Thirteen-point ladybug | ||||||||||||
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Thirteen-point ladybug ( Hippodamia tredecimpunctata ) |
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| Hippodamia tredecimpunctata | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The thirteen-point ladybird or thirteen-point swamp ladybird ( Hippodamia tredecimpunctata ) is a beetle from the ladybird family (Coccinellidae).
features
The thirteen-point ladybug becomes five to seven millimeters tall. In contrast to the other species of ladybirds, it is somewhat elongated and only has a slightly arched body. The name comes from the thirteen black dots on the otherwise red wings . The pronotum is yellowish in color and has a black central point and black lateral points that can grow together with the one in the middle. There are different variants of this beetle from completely red to the rare completely black ones. The legs are yellow except for the black tibia and tarsi .
Similar species
- Seven-spotted ladybird ( Hippodamia septemmaculata )
Occurrence
The animals occur in the entire Palearctic , north to central Scandinavia and also in North America . The beetles make relatively high demands on the habitat . They prefer moist or wet meadows in the hill country and in meadow valleys and usually sit on water-loving plants, especially on hedgehogs , sedges , rushes , reeds and willows . But they also occur on Prunus species, which suggests a change of host.
Reproduction
The young beetles of the new generation overwinter in dry grass or at the edge of the forest, and they can be seen for the first time next spring. In late summer, the next generation is ready to prepare for winter again. In Central Europe you can find the animals from April to October.
food
The thirteen-point ladybug feeds on aphids .
literature
- Harde, Severa: Der Kosmos Käferführer, The Central European Beetles , Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-06959-1
- Dr. Helgard Reichholf-Riehm: Insects , Mosaik-Verlag, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-572-01088-8
- Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Beetles of Central and Northwestern Europe. Parey, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1
