Aphidecta
Weise, 1899
larch ladybird, larch ladybug
Species Guides
1- Aphidecta obliterata(larch ladybird)
Aphidecta is a of Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles) containing at least one well-documented , A. obliterata, commonly known as the larch ladybird. Members are specialized of conifer-infesting adelgids and aphids. The genus has been the subject of research, particularly for management of balsam woolly aphid.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aphidecta: /ˌæfɪˈdɛktə/
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Habitat
Coniferous forests, particularly those containing larch, spruce, and fir . Associated with trees bearing adelgid or prey.
Distribution
Western Europe including Scandinavia and the British Isles; introduced to Eastern Canada (unsuccessful establishment). GBIF records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Diet
Preys on conifer-infesting adelgids and aphids, including Elatobium abietinum, Adelges cooleyi, and Adelges piceae.
Host Associations
- Elatobium abietinum - prey on Sitka spruce
- Adelges cooleyi - preyadelgid on Douglas fir
- Adelges piceae - preybalsam woolly aphid
- larch (Larix) - implied by
- spruce (Picea) - tree for prey
- fir (Abies) - tree for prey
- Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga) - tree for prey
Ecological Role
of conifer-feeding Hemiptera; potential agent for forest pest management.
Human Relevance
Subject of multiple introduction attempts to Eastern Canada for of balsam woolly aphid (Adelges piceae); initial attempts failed due to winter survival limitations.
Similar Taxa
- Adalia bipunctataBoth Coccinellidae , but Aphidecta is a conifer while Adalia bipunctata is a ; Aphidecta shows stronger on spruce.
- Coccinella septempunctataBoth Coccinellidae found on conifers, but C. septempunctata rapidly disperses when prey is absent whereas Aphidecta remains as the .
- Adalia decempunctataBoth Coccinellidae found on conifers, but A. decempunctata only occurs briefly following pupal and disperses when prey is scarce.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Laboratory Studies on the Developmental Period and Feeding Behavior of Aphidecta obliterata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an Introduced Predator of the Balsam Woolly Aphid1
- Oviposition responses to patch quality in the larch ladybird Aphidecta obliterata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): effects of aphid density, and con- and heterospecific tracks
- A comparison of Aphidecta obliteratae (L.) (Col., Coccinellidae) populations feeding on Elatobium abietinum (Walker) and on Adelges cooleyi (Gillette)
- Studies of Predators of the Balsam Woolly Aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) (Homoptera: Adelgidae) VI. Aphidecta obliterata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an Introduced Predator in Eastern Canada,
- The effects of host plant on the coccinellid functional response: Is the conifer specialist Aphidecta obliterata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) better adapted to spruce than the generalist Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)?
- The genome sequence of the larch ladybird beetle, Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).