Wednesday 19 September 2007

24-Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata)

OTHER NAMES: Alfalfa Ladybird, Alfalfa Lady Beetle
Latin Etymology: Subcoccinella ("sub-ladybird") vigintiquatuorpunctata ("twenty-four spotted")
Two adult 24-Spotted Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata) at Geddington, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 3-4mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The 24-Spot Ladybird is another highly variable species capable of having a wide range of spots up to 26.  More unusually though, unlike all other British ladybirds, its shell has a somewhat velvet-like quality with tiny downy hair like structures giving it a bit more of a matte appearance.  Also unusual is that this ladybird is often flightless - a sample in the UK found that none had wings under their wing cases, while individuals in other countries may have a portion of the population be winged.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Subcoccinella
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM A resident species which is seen in Summer
 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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