Coccinella transversoguttata

Faldermann, 1835

Transverse Lady Beetle, transverse ladybird

Coccinella transversoguttata is a predatory to North America, now also found in Europe and Asia including the Tibetan plateau. It is recognized by the transverse black across the base of its , formed by connected spots. The serves as an important agent against and other agricultural pests, though its appear to be declining in some regions following the introduction of competing non-native lady beetles.

Coccinella transversoguttata by (c) Syd Cannings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Syd Cannings. Used under a CC-BY license.

Jacobson coccinella transversoguttata by Georgiy Jacobson. Used under a Public domain license.

Coccinella transversoguttata by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Coccinella transversoguttata: //ˌkɒksɪˈnɛlə trænzˌvɜːrsəʊˈɡʌtə.tə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

The transverse black across the base of the —formed by connected spots between the "shoulders"—is the primary diagnostic feature separating this from the similar seven-spotted (Coccinella septempunctata), which has separate spots in this position. The has markings only at the corners, not forming a complete white collar as in C. novemnotata.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural areas including apple orchards, barley fields, and alfalfa fields; grasslands; recorded at elevations of 2,942–3,836 m on the Tibetan plateau.

Distribution

to North America, occurring from Labrador to Virginia, west to Alaska and California; also present in Greenland. or naturally spread to Europe, Central America, Mexico, and the Tibetan plateau in China (latitude 29.07°–30.01°N, longitude 88.28°–96.69°E).

Diet

of including , Macrosiphum avenae, , Acyrthosiphon dirhodum, Aphis craccivora, and spotted alfalfa aphid; also feeds on and .

Host Associations

Aphis gossypii -
Macrosiphum avenae -
Schizaphis graminum -
Acyrthosiphon dirhodum -
Aphis craccivora - Peanut ; used in laboratory rearing
Malus - associated Apple orchards
Hordeum vulgare - associated Highland barley fields
Medicago sativa - associated Alfalfa fields

Behavior

Active foraging with high ; uses and to manipulate while crush the prey. Exhibits prey-handling typical of .

Ecological Role

Important of agricultural pests, particularly ; contributes to biological pest control in agricultural . Part of in Tibet alongside Hippodamia variegata, Harmonia axyridis, and Coccinella septempunctata.

Human Relevance

Valued as a agent in agriculture; used in to reduce . Populations appear to be declining in parts of its range following establishment of non-native , particularly the seven-spotted lady beetle from Europe.

Similar Taxa

Coccinella septempunctataSeven-spotted has separate spots near the rather than the connected transverse ; also differs in pronotum pattern with only corner markings versus more extensive patterns in some specimens
Coccinella novemnotataNine-spotted has a complete pronotal collar from corner to corner and typically nine spots rather than the transverse pattern
Coccinella transversalisShares the "transverse " but occurs in Australia and Asia; distinct not overlapping in distribution with C. transversoguttata
Harmonia axyridisMulticolored Asian is highly variable in spot pattern but rarely shows the consistent transverse pattern; typically larger and with different markings

More Details

Population Status

Appears to be suffering declines in parts of its range following the arrival and establishment of the non-native seven-spotted (Coccinella septempunctata), similar to the decline observed in the native nine-spotted lady beetle.

Bacterial Symbionts

on the Tibetan plateau harbor bacterial including , Serratia, , and Buchnera, with community structure varying by feeding habits and geographic location.

Genomic Resources

-level assembly available (453.64 Mb, 16,464 -coding genes), supporting research on predatory mechanisms and applications.