Brachiacantha tau

LeConte, 1859

t-marked larkspur lady beetle, T-marked Spurleg

Brachiacantha tau is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length. are oval and shiny. The is notable for its larval : larvae feed on scale insects within colonies, making them rarely observed. Adults are sometimes found on flowers or hunting in foliage. The specific epithet "tau" refers to a T-shaped marking on the species.

Brachiacantha tau 144814417 by Colin Croft. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Brachiacantha tau: //ˌbrækiəˈkænθə taʊ//

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Images

Distribution

Recorded from Kansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah in the United States. New Neotropical localities have been added based on recent taxonomic revision.

Diet

Larvae feed on scale insects within colonies. feeding habits are not specifically documented for this .

Behavior

Larvae inhabit colonies where they feed on scale insects, an unusual ecological association among lady beetles. are sometimes observed on flowers or hunting within foliage.