Zilus horni

Gordon, 1985

Eastern Velvethead Ladybug

Zilus horni is a minute lady beetle in the Coccinellidae, measuring approximately 1.40–1.60 mm in length. The is native to eastern North America, with records from Maryland to Florida and west to Wisconsin and Louisiana. It was described by Gordon in 1985 and named in honor of American entomologist George H. Horn. The specific epithet commemorates Horn's contributions to coleopterology.

Zilus horni by (c) Zachary Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zachary Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Zilus horni: /ˈziː.lʊs ˈhɔːrn.iː/

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Identification

Distinguished from other North American lady beetles by its exceptionally small size (under 2 mm) and the combination of a black body with yellowish brown appendages. The Zilus is separated from similar small coccinellids by subtle structural features of the tarsal claws and male genitalia; identification to level requires examination of these characters.

Images

Appearance

are minute beetles, 1.40–1.60 mm in length. The body is black. , mouthparts, and legs are yellowish brown.

Distribution

Eastern North America: recorded from Maryland south to Florida, west to Wisconsin, and from Louisiana.

Similar Taxa

Other Zilus speciesSimilar minute size and dark coloration; require genitalic dissection for definitive separation
Small Stethorus speciesComparable size and black coloration, but Stethorus often have more rounded body form and different tarsal structure

More Details

Etymology

Named in honor of George H. Horn (1840–1897), a prominent American entomologist who made significant contributions to the study of Coleoptera, particularly the classification of North American beetles.