Hippodamia parenthesis

(Say, 1824)

Parenthesis Lady Beetle

Hippodamia parenthesis, commonly known as the parenthesis lady beetle, is a small lady beetle native to North America. measure 3.75–5.60 mm in length and are distinguished by spotted with spots that are often suffused. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, westward to Alaska and California. As a member of the Hippodamia, it is presumed to be predatory like , though specific prey associations for this species are not well documented.

Hippodamia parenthesis by (c) Suzanne Carriere, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Suzanne Carriere. Used under a CC-BY license.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1914) (18227336779) by Miriam Augusta Palmer
. Used under a No restrictions license.

Hippodamia parenthesis type of ladybug by John Zdralek. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hippodamia parenthesis: /hɪpoʊˈdeɪmiə pəˈrɛnθəsɪs/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other Hippodamia by the suffused spots on the . The "parenthesis" likely refers to the shape or arrangement of these markings, though this is not explicitly confirmed in sources. Separation from the closely related and more widely studied Hippodamia convergens (convergent lady beetle) requires examination of spot pattern details, particularly the degree of fusion or diffusion of the apical spots.

Images

Appearance

are small, measuring 3.75–5.60 mm in length. The bear spots, with the spots characteristically suffused or diffused rather than sharply defined. The overall body form is typical of the Hippodamia: oval and moderately convex. Coloration and precise spot patterns are not fully described in available sources.

Distribution

North America. Recorded from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, westward to Alaska and California. Canadian provincial records include Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

Similar Taxa

Hippodamia convergensClosely related with similar size and general appearance; distinguished by convergent rather than parenthesis-shaped spot patterns and more extensively studied .