Coleomegilla maculata

(De Geer, 1775)

spotted pink lady beetle, spotted lady beetle, pink spotted lady beetle, twelve-spotted lady beetle

Coleomegilla maculata is a North widely used in programs. and are primarily , though this is unusual among North American in its facultative pollen-feeding habit—pollen may constitute up to 50% of adult diet. The species shows increasing abundance and westward range expansion while many native coccinellids are declining, possibly due to its dietary flexibility reducing competitive impacts from . Multiple exist, with C. m. fuscilabris distinguished by bright orange-red rather than pink coloration.

Coleomegilla maculata by (c) Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Coleomegilla maculata strenua by (c) Jason Eckberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jason Eckberg. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Coleomegilla maculata: //ˌkɒliːəʊˈmɛɡɪlə ˌmækjʊˈleɪtə//

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

Identification

Distinguished from Naemia seriata (seaside ) by discrete black spots on and rather than merged markings; N. seriata is additionally restricted to coastal . The twelve black spots (six per elytron) and pink ground color separate it from most other North . C. m. fuscilabris is bright orange-red rather than pink.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural and natural supporting . Frequently associated with including wheat, sorghum, sweet corn, alfalfa, soybeans, peas, beans, cotton, potatoes, brassicaceous crops, tomatoes, asparagus, and apples. Overwinters in in leaf litter, under stones, and at field edges or hedgerows.

Distribution

across the Americas. Eastern North America historically, with documented westward expansion into central North America including Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Present in Middle America and South America (Brazil, Peru). C. m. lengi occurs across eastern and expanding into central USA and southeastern Canada.

Seasonality

Active March through October, with peak abundance in September when congregate before mating and winter . Multiple per year (2–5). Emerges from hibernation in spring, with maturing as temperatures rise above 15°C.

Diet

and feed primarily on including , , melon (cotton) aphid, , and . Also consumes , , , (including fall , , , , , , asparagus ), and small larvae. Uniquely among North , adults facultatively feed on pollen—up to 50% of diet—with dandelion, squash, corn, and lily documented as important pollen sources. Also consumes nectar, , and water.

Life Cycle

Females lay 200–1,000 in groups of 8–15 over a three-month period, placing them on stems and leaves near . actively seek prey, traveling up to 12 meters in search of food. Four molts occur before larvae attach by to leaves or other surfaces to pupate. emerge 3–12 days post- depending on temperature. Two to five per year. occurs as adults in large in protected sites.

Behavior

actively forage and disperse up to 12 meters seeking . First larvae may drop from plants and crawl across soil up to 8 meters daily before ascending plants. and larvae exhibit when normal prey is scarce, consuming , larvae, and . Adults show temperature-dependent maturation of post-, with migratory flights from sites to breeding areas. Attracted to pollen-rich flowers including dandelion, facilitating movement.

Ecological Role

Important of agricultural pests in agroecosystems, particularly . Documented significant predator of (averaging 60 eggs/day), eggs on sweet corn, and eggs and . Serves as counterexample to regional declines in , showing stable or increasing abundance and range expansion. Facultative pollen-feeding may reduce competitive exclusion by coccinelline .

Human Relevance

Widely used in : manipulative (enhancing existing ), augmentative (mass release), and classical (introduction to new areas). Commercially available for pest management. Research demonstrates safety of consuming Bt-expressing , supporting compatibility with transgenic . Interplanting with flowering plants (e.g., dandelion) enhances by attracting pollen-seeking .

Similar Taxa

Naemia seriata (seaside lady beetle)Similar pink coloration and spotted pattern, but restricted to coastal and with larger, merged black markings on and versus discrete spots in C. maculata.
Hippodamia convergens (convergent lady beetle)Shared use in and similar associations; distinguished by orange-red coloration with convergent black thoracic markings rather than pink ground color.

More Details

Subspecies

Seven recognized: C. m. bisexpunctata, C. m. fuscilabris (orange-red coloration), C. m. lengi, C. m. limensis, C. m. maculata (nominate), C. m. medialis, and C. m. strenua. Subspecies C. m. lengi shows documented westward range expansion into Wyoming and central North America.

Research significance

Demonstrated safe consumption of Cry -containing , supporting use in Bt systems. affected by cedar heartwood powder and food texture (powdered Artemia increase oviposition versus whole eggs).