Lecture 8 Flashcards
what order does the lady beetle belong to?
Coleoptera
what family does the lady beetle belong to?
Coccinellidae
How many species of lady beetles are in NA?
475
How many genera of lady beetles are in NA?
75
aposematic colouration
colouration to defend themselves from predators, “warns” predators that there is a negative effect when attacking them
what type of poison do lady beetles produce?
alkaloids
what are the alkaloids that lady beetles produce?
o Coccideline
o Hippodamine
what do the alkaloids contain that causes a smelly & distasteful smell?
Nitrogen ring
haemolymph reflex-bleeding
break skin (softer areas by the legs) when threatened & bleed out liquid contain poisonous alkaloid substances
batesian mimicry
species resemble others to acquire protection
Are colouration patterns species-specific?
Yes & no
Ex: 7-spoted lady beetle always have 7 spots
what is significant about the Asian lady beetle?
polymorphism - multiple colourations
what do all Asian lady beetles have?
4 dots in the pronotum
polymorphism
indivs of the same species differ in their colour patterns, morphology, etc.
Small lady beetles are young lady beetles?
no - size is irrelevant to age
Old lady beetles have more spots than young lady beetles?
no, don’t add or remove any spots during their lifetime
Have the same number of spots from birth to death
what type of development do lady beetles have?
metamorphosis or holohmetabolous
where do lady beetles deposit their eggs?
on leaves & where there a lot of aphids
how many larval stages do lady beetles have?
4
what is the diet of a lady beetle?
aphids
generalists
cannibalistic - when N isn’t abundant, will ear larvae skin & egg covering
How is the lady beetle’s diet utilized by humans?
to control Coccidae (Homoptera) populations, an agricultural pest
wax cover on them protects them from insecticides, therefore the lady beetles are used to control them
Trophic eggs
a proportion are infertile eggs laid to feed offspring
what does the Mexican bean beetle larvae look like?
yellow with hairs
what species is related to the mexican bean beetle?
squash beetle
what do the mexican bean beetles eat?
plants
is the mexican bean beetle a pest?
only one species in NA that is a pest
the rest beneficial
how do lady beetles accomplish movement?
Larvae cannot walk, rely on mothers to be in a proper habitat
Fly – unfold hard wings to fly
how do lady beetles overwinter?
Aggregate as adults (not the 7 spotted lady beetle)
overwinter in mountains - look for high places & crops
in the spring they leave & find food
what are the enemies? (5)
ants - protect aphids upon the arrival of lady beetles, bother lady beetles so they won’t
spiders
True bugs (Hemiptera), aphids
birds
parasitoid wasp
how does the parasitoid wasp use the lady beetle?
Lay eggs in the lady beetle, eggs hatch & larvae emerge from the lady beetle’s body
Lady beetle protects the pupa of the parasitoid
Lady beetles kick when something approaches to protect pupa
Wasp triggers behavior in host but injecting the host with neurotoxins
describe the origin of the 7 spotted lady beetle
native to europe
introduced in USA to control aphids
describe the habitat & abundance of the 7 spotted lady beetle
very abundant in MB
habitat generalist
describe the origin of the Asian lady beetle
native to Asia
introduced in the USA following outbreaks of the soybean aphid
describe the habitat of the Asian lady beetle
generalists, arboreal species
what type of predator is the Asian lady beetle?
aggressive intra-guild predator (kill & eat competitors)
where does the Asian lady beetle overwinter?
inside buildings
describe the convergent lady beetle unique colouring
distinct pattern - 2 white marks on the pronotum
describe overwintering in the convergent lady beetle
migrate to mountains in California
