Scymninae
Guides
Clitostethus
dusky lady beetles
Clitostethus is a genus of minute lady beetles (Coccinellidae: Scymninae) comprising over 40 species. Members are recognized as specialized predators of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae). Several species have been evaluated as biological control agents against agricultural pests including Bemisia tabaci and Siphoninus phillyreae. The genus was established by Weise in 1885 and includes species formerly classified under Nephaspis.
Clitostethus arcuatus
Horseshoe Ladybird
Clitostethus arcuatus is a minute ladybird beetle in the subfamily Scymninae, measuring 1.3–1.5 mm as an adult. Native to Europe, it has been introduced or reported from Bermuda and is expanding its range northward in European Russia. It serves as an important biological control agent of whitefly pests, particularly the ash whitefly Siphoninus phillyreae, and has been evaluated for augmentation biocontrol programs.
Nephus
Nephus is a genus of small lady beetles in the family Coccinellidae, subfamily Scymninae. The genus contains more than 25 described species. Several former species have been transferred to the genus Scymnobius. Members of this genus are known as specialized predators of mealybugs and have been investigated for biological control of these pests.
Nephus intrusus
Nephus intrusus is a small dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, first described by Horn in 1895. The species was formerly classified under the genus Scymnobius but is currently placed in Nephus. It is known from limited observations in North America, with documented records from Ontario, Canada. Like other members of the subfamily Scymninae, it likely preys on scale insects and mealybugs, though specific ecological studies are sparse.
Nephus timberlakei
dusky lady beetle
Nephus timberlakei is a species of dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It was described by Gordon in 1985 and is found in North America. The species belongs to the genus Nephus, a group of small lady beetles often referred to as dusky lady beetles due to their typically subdued coloration compared to the brightly colored Coccinellinae.
Sasajiscymnus
Sasajiscymnus is a genus of small lady beetles (Coccinellidae) established by Vandenberg in 2004. The genus contains over 100 species distributed across Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Molecular evidence suggests an origin in the Late Cretaceous, approximately 78 million years ago. The genus includes S. tsugae, which has been widely studied and deployed as a biological control agent against the hemlock woolly adelgid in North America.
Scymnus compar
dusky lady beetle
Scymnus compar is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) described by Thomas L. Casey in 1899. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group commonly known as dusky lady beetles due to their typically subdued coloration compared to the brightly spotted species familiar to most observers. The species is documented from North America, with specific records from Ontario, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predator of small soft-bodied insects, though direct observations of its biology remain limited.
Scymnus consobrinus
consobrinous lady beetle
Scymnus consobrinus is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, commonly known as the consobrinous lady beetle. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group often referred to as dusky lady beetles due to their typically subdued coloration compared to the bright patterns of larger coccinellids. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852 and is known to occur in North America. Like other members of Scymnus, it is likely a predator of small soft-bodied insects, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Scymnus falli
Fall's lady beetle, Fall's dusky lady beetle
Scymnus falli is a small lady beetle species described by Gordon in 1976. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, commonly known as dusky lady beetles, which are generally smaller and more slender than the familiar brightly colored ladybugs. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology remain limited in published literature.
Scymnus fraternus
dusky lady beetle
Scymnus fraternus is a small lady beetle in the subfamily Scymninae, commonly known as dusky lady beetles. The species was described by LeConte in 1852 and occurs in northeastern North America. Records indicate presence in Ontario, Québec, and Vermont. Like other Scymnus species, it likely preys on small hemipteran pests such as aphids and scale insects, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
Scymnus garlandicus
garland lady beetle
Scymnus garlandicus, commonly known as the garland lady beetle, is a small dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group of minute lady beetles often characterized by their diminutive size and inconspicuous coloration. The species was described by Casey in 1899 and is recorded from North America. Like other members of Scymnus, it is presumed to be a predator of small soft-bodied insects, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Scymnus indianensis
Indiana lady beetle
Scymnus indianensis, commonly known as the Indiana lady beetle, is a small dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It belongs to the genus Scymnus, which comprises minute lady beetles often characterized by their dull coloration and pubescent bodies. The species was described by Weise in 1929 and is documented from North America, with specific records from Ontario, Canada. Like other members of Scymninae, it is presumed to be a predator of small soft-bodied insects, though direct observations of its biology remain limited.
Scymnus louisianae
Scymnus louisianae is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) described by J. Chapin in 1973. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group of minute lady beetles often associated with scale insect and mealybug prey. The species is documented in North America with a notable concentration of observations. Like other Scymnus species, it likely serves as a biological control agent for agricultural and forest pests.
Scymnus marginicollis
dusky lady beetle
Scymnus marginicollis is a species of dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. It is recognized as a member of the subfamily Scymninae, a group of small lady beetles often referred to as 'dusky' or 'scymnine' lady beetles due to their typically dull coloration compared to the brightly colored Coccinellinae. The species is known to occur across North America with two recognized subspecies: S. marginicollis marginicollis and S. marginicollis borealis.
Scymnus nevadensis
Nevada lady beetle
Scymnus nevadensis is a small dusky lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, commonly known as the Nevada lady beetle. The species was described by Weise in 1929. It is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Scymnus securus
Coastal Marsh Scymnus
Scymnus securus is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) described by Chapin in 1973. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group of minute lady beetles often associated with wetland habitats. The species is known from coastal marsh environments in eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada. It is among the less frequently documented Scymnus species, with limited observational data available.
Scymnus socer
dusky lady beetle
Scymnus socer is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, commonly known as dusky lady beetles, which are generally smaller and more cryptically colored than the familiar spotted lady beetles. The species is known from North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Stethorus pusillus
Dot Ladybird
Stethorus pusillus is the smallest European ladybird beetle, belonging to the family Coccinellidae and subfamily Scymninae. This species has been documented as a host for the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces coccinelloides, with the first Polish records representing the northernmost and easternmost occurrence of this fungus. The species has been collected from roadside willow trees and floodplain forests in Poland, and is known from various European localities including Spain and Belgium, as well as from the Azores islands.