Scymnus loewii

Mulsant, 1850

Loew's Lady Beetle

Scymnus loewii is a minute in the , commonly known as Loew's lady beetle. It is among the smallest members of the family, with measuring under 2.5 mm. The has a broad intercontinental distribution spanning Central America, North America, and Oceania.

Scymnus loewii by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.Scymnus loewii 119021123 by Cole Shoemaker. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Scymnus loewii 180483228 by ncb1221. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Scymnus loewii: //ˈsɪmnəs ˈləʊwi.aɪ//

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Identification

Distinguished from other Scymnus by the combination of small size (< 2.3 mm), reddish coloration, and the pronotal black spot that reaches the elytral base. The minute size separates it from most other .

Images

Appearance

are 1.7–2.3 mm in length. The body is reddish overall. The bears a distinctive black spot that extends to the base of the .

Distribution

Recorded from Central America, North America, and Oceania. Specific regional records include Brazil (Minas Gerais) and Middle America.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Scymnus speciesMany share small size and reddish coloration; S. loewii is distinguished by the pronotal spot pattern extending to the elytral base.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'loewii' honors the German Hermann Loew (1807–1879).

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Sources and further reading