Coleomegilla maculata

(De Geer, 1775)

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

Species Guides

Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris(Spotted Orange Lady Beetle)
Coleomegilla maculata lengi(pink-spotted lady beetle)
Coleomegilla maculata strenua(12-spotted lady beetle)

Coleomegilla maculata is a native North American coccinellid widely used in programs. and larvae are primarily , though this is unusual among North American lady beetles 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 lady beetle) by discrete black spots on and pronotum 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 American coccinellids. C. m. fuscilabris is bright orange-red rather than pink.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural and natural supporting . Frequently associated with crops 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

Native 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 hibernation. Multiple per year (2–5). Emerges from hibernation in spring, with maturing as temperatures rise above 15°C.

Diet

and larvae feed primarily on aphids including pea aphid, green peach aphid, melon (cotton) , cabbage aphid, and potato aphid. Also consumes adelgids, mites, scale insects, insect (including fall webworm, European corn borer, imported cabbageworm, corn earworm, Colorado potato beetle, Mexican bean beetle, asparagus beetle), and small larvae. Uniquely among North American coccinellids, adults facultatively feed on pollen—up to 50% of diet—with dandelion, squash, corn, and lily documented as important pollen sources. Also consumes nectar, honeydew, 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 prey. Larvae actively seek prey, traveling up to 12 meters in search of food. Four 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

Larvae actively forage and disperse up to 12 meters seeking prey. First instar 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 pupae. Adults show temperature-dependent maturation of post-hibernation, with migratory flights from sites to breeding areas. Attracted to pollen-rich flowers including dandelion, facilitating intercrop movement.

Ecological Role

Important of agricultural pests in agroecosystems, particularly aphids. Documented significant predator of European corn borer (averaging 60 eggs/day), Helicoverpa zea eggs on sweet corn, and Colorado potato beetle eggs and larvae. Serves as counterexample to regional declines in native coccinellid , 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 prey, supporting compatibility with transgenic crops. 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 pronotum 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 protein-containing Colorado potato beetle larvae, supporting use in Bt crop systems. Oviposition affected by cedar heartwood powder and food texture (powdered Artemia increase oviposition versus whole eggs).