Male-killing-bacteria

Guides

• Adalia

  ladybugs, lady beetles, ladybirds

  Adalia is a genus of lady beetles (Coccinellidae) containing two species: A. bipunctata (two-spot ladybird) and A. decempunctata (ten-spot ladybird). These beetles are aphid predators found across the Palearctic region. Both species exhibit color pattern polymorphism and possess alkaloid chemical defenses. A. bipunctata is known to harbor multiple male-killing symbionts including Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma, though symbiont phenotypes vary geographically.

  ColeopteraCoccinellidaelady-beetlesbiological-controlaphid-predatorssymbiontsmale-killing-bacteriachemical-defensealkaloidspolymorphismPalearcticinvasive-species-impactcitizen-science