Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
Summary 7
Hippodamia convergens, commonly known as the convergent lady beetle, is one of the most common lady beetles in North America and is found throughout the continent. Aphids form their main diet and they are used for the biological control of these pests.
Morphology 8
Hippodamia convergens is semi-hemispherically shaped and has elytra that are yellow/red or tannish red with 12 black spots. The beetle does not have the typical oval shape of most lady beetles and the elytra are not as curvaceous. Hippodamia convergens has three separate spots on the posterior of the elytra, while their legs and underside are all black. These beetles have short legs with 3 segmented tarsi and short antennae as well. The prothorax is black with a white border and white lines that are directed inward towards one another and the abdomen; they are converging, thus giving this beetle its name. The prothorax does not align perfectly with the front edge of the elytra.
Eggs are typically 1 to 1.5 mm, elongated, and pointed at one end. Larvae look like alligators and are distinct because of the orange spots that they have on their prothorax. Pupae are orange and black and have a hemispherical shape.
Range length: 4 to 5 mm.
Range wingspan: 2.7 to 4.4 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; poisonous
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Habitat 9
Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, is found in a diverse array of habitats including forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, and suburban gardens. Convergent lady beetles are found on crops in gardens and farms where there are plenty of aphids and other prey to eat. Typical crops on which they live are wheat, sorghum, and alfalfa. During the winter, H. convergens can be found under logs, ground-covering vegetation, and even in buildings.
Habitat Regions: terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest
Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural
Sources and Credits
- (c) Nature Gardens Gallery Interpreter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nature Gardens Gallery Interpreter
- (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4856898362_81d27fa97c.jpg
- (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3197/3281778090_d2b771afed_o.jpg
- (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6339869198_8803d5d017_b.jpg
- (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/10392101875_bc222dfc0a_o.jpg
- (c) Justin Johnsen, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S4vTJ8oUVfA/UUi5mD1rLyI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/6RwbEbZwgNg/P3181614.JPG
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippodamia_convergens
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31398180
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31398179
