Exochomus subrotundus
Casey, 1899
Exochomus subrotundus is a small lady beetle in the Coccinellidae, described by Casey in 1899. It is native to southwestern North America, with confirmed records from California, Arizona, and Texas. are distinguished by their compact body form and characteristic color pattern involving dark with contrasting yellow or orange markings.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Exochomus subrotundus: /ɛkˈsɔkʰoʊməs ˌsʊbroʊˈtʌndʊs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
The combination of small size (under 3.5 mm), black and pronotum, and with both lateral yellow/orange borders and basal spots distinguishes this from most other North American Coccinellidae. The yellow anterolateral pronotal angles, when present, provide an additional diagnostic feature. Similar Exochomus species may differ in exact spot configuration, body proportions, or geographic range.
Images
Appearance
are small, compact beetles measuring 2.70–3.40 mm in length. The and pronotum are black, occasionally with a yellow anterolateral angle on the pronotum. The are dark brown to black, each bearing a yellow or orange lateral border and a basal spot. The overall body form is relatively rounded compared to some .
Distribution
Recorded from southwestern United States: California, Arizona, and Texas. The limited number of observations suggests either restricted distribution or undercollection.
Similar Taxa
- Other Exochomus speciesShare compact body form and dark coloration with contrasting markings, but differ in exact pattern of spots and borders on , and often in geographic distribution.
- Chilocorus spp.Similar small, dark lady beetles with contrasting elytral margins, but Chilocorus typically has more uniformly rounded body outline and different spot configurations.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Described by Thomas L. Casey in 1899, this has remained in the Exochomus without major taxonomic revision. The genus Exochomus belongs to the Chilocorinae, a group of predominantly small, often dark-colored lady beetles.
Data limitations
With only 25 iNaturalist observations and sparse literature records, much of the of this remains undocumented. Published information is restricted to basic morphological description and locality records.