Sixteen-spotted ladybug
| Sixteen-spotted ladybug | ||||||||||||
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Sixteen -spotted ladybug |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Halyzia sedecimguttata | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The sixteen -spotted ladybird ( Halyzia sedecimguttata ), also known as the sixteen- spotted mushroom ladybird , is a beetle from the ladybird family (Coccinellidae).
features
The beetles are five to seven millimeters long; the body is oval in shape, rounded rather than elongated, and arched. Your entire body has a light brown base color on the top and bottom, only the compound eyes are black. There are eight whitish spots on each of the upper wings , some of which may be missing in some specimens, the wing cover seam is finely provided on both sides with a light longitudinal line. On the pronotum , which usually covers the head, there is a whitish spot on both outer sides. The antennae, which are also light brown, are quite long and thicken slightly at the end.
Similar species
- Light ladybird ( Calvia decemguttata )
- Dodecagonal mushroom ladybug ( Vibidia duodecimguttata )
Occurrence
The beetles are quite widespread throughout the Palearctic except in the far north. They live in deciduous forests and bushes from low altitudes to slightly mountainous heights. Sometimes they can also be found in coniferous forests . They fly from April to October.
Way of life
The diurnal as well as nocturnal animals usually sit on leaves, from which they eat the powdery mildew . Since they partially damage the plant, e.g. B. by fungal attack, they are viewed by gardeners as beneficial insects. Only in spring does the female lay eggs in the vegetation. The larvae lead a similar way of life as the adult beetles. The finished beetles hatch from the pupae , which usually hang down from plants. These overwinter in the litter.
Special
The sixteen-spotted ladybug is said to be able to predict the harshness of winter . If it winters in a knothole or under the bark of a tree, the winter becomes mild; if it buries itself in the leaves on the ground, the winter should become hard.
literature
- Harde, Severa: Der Kosmos Käferführer, The Central European Beetles , Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-06959-1
- Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Beetles of Central and Northwestern Europe. Parey, Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1
