Twenty-Spotted Lady Beetle

Psyllobora vigintimaculata

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
Family: Coccinellidae
Subfamily: Coccinellinae
Genus: Psyllobora
Species: vigintimaculata

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Psyllobora vigintimaculata: /ˌsɪl.oʊˈbɔː.rə ˌvaɪ.dʒɪn.tiˈmæk.jəˌleɪ.tə/

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

Images

Psyllobora vigintimaculata larva by Beatriz Moisset. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Psyllobora vigintimaculata Washington 20160713 by Sesamehoneytart. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Psyllobora vigintimaculata 1 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Psyllobora vigintimaculata 364745726 by Claus Giloi. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata) - Guelph, Ontario 02 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata) - Guelph, Ontario 03 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Psyllobora vigintimaculata, the twenty-spotted lady beetle, is a small beetle found in North America that primarily feeds on powdery mildew. It features a distinctive spot pattern that aids in its identification among other lady beetles.

Physical Characteristics

Psyllobora vigintimaculata is about 1.75–3.0 mm in length, with four or five distinctive dark spots on the pronotum in an 'M' shape. The elytra have dark, orange, or bicolored spots on a white background.

Identification Tips

The dorsal pattern, including the number and arrangement of spots, helps to distinguish this species from other lady beetles such as the fourteen-spotted lady beetle (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) and the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

Habitat

Typically found in areas with skunk cabbage in early spring and on various plants with powdery mildew in summer and fall.

Distribution

Widespread across North America, from Alaska to California and Georgia, except for some areas in California.

Diet

Feeds primarily on powdery mildew (fungus) on leaf surfaces.

Life Cycle

Undergoes four larval instars followed by pupation, with adult emergence varying based on temperature.

Reproduction

Eggs are laid, which hatch into larvae; the life cycle timing varies with environmental conditions.

Ecosystem Role

Could potentially serve as a biological control agent for powdery mildew, impacting agricultural practices.

Economic Impact

Potential alternative to fungicides for managing powdery mildew in crops; however, its efficacy is not fully established.

Health Concerns

Potential parasitism by Hesperomyces virescens, which has been reported but its impact on the beetle is unclear.