Hyperaspidius hercules

Belicek, 1976

Hyperaspidius hercules is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) found in western North America. measure 2.10–4.00 mm in length. The exhibits in pronotal coloration: males have yellow pronota with black basal spots, while females have black pronota with faint yellow lateral margins. The are black with yellow markings on the , lateral, and discal areas. It has been recorded from Alberta, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hyperaspidius hercules: /haɪpərəsˈpɪdiəs ˈhɜːrkjuliːz/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other Hyperaspidius by the specific pattern of yellow vittae on black and the sexually dimorphic pronotal coloration. Males can be recognized by the yellow pronotum with black basal spots; females by the predominantly black pronotum with narrow yellow lateral margins. The small size (2.10–4.00 mm) and western North American distribution help separate it from similar eastern species.

Distribution

Recorded from western North America: Alberta (Canada), and the US states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. GBIF records also indicate presence in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'hercules' is shared with the unrelated scarab beetle Dynastes hercules, a much larger (up to 175 mm) famous for its prominent thoracic and cephalic horns in males. These two species belong to different (Coccinellidae vs. Scarabaeidae) and are not closely related.