INTERESTING INSECTS

By N A Martin (2016, revised 2017)

Variable ladybird, Common Australian ladybug

Coccinella inaequalis Fabricius, 1775

Coccinella 9punctata Fabricius, 1775

Coccinella novemmaculata Fabricius, 1781

Coleophora Ripponi Crotch, 1874

Coleophora Mastersi Blackburn, 1892

Coleophora veranioides Blackburn, 1894

Coccinella religiosa Lea, 1902

This distinctive adventive ladybird from Australia, Pacific Islands and South East Asia was first found in Auckland in 1966. It has been found on Little Barrier Island and is common in the Auckland Region where it can be seen in parks and gardens on trees, shrubs and other plants infested with aphids.

Conservation status: This adventive ladybird is present in the Auckland Region and feeds on adventive aphids and it may assist with control of aphids on economic and ornamental plants.

The distinctly coloured adults are about five millimetres long. The head, prothorax (first part of the middle body) and elytra (wing covers) are orange and black with the black markings forming a cross on each elytron. Under the elytra is a pair of wings used for flying. The legs are black at their base and mid brown on the distal segments. The small head has a pair of compound eyes and two short antennae. The antennae and palps are also brown.

Female ladybirds lay yellow eggs near infestations of prey. A long larva hatches from each egg. The newly hatched larva is dark grey and has short dark tubercles. Older larvae have areas of white and pale yellow. The first abdominal segment is white laterally, while the fourth abdominal segment is white on top and on the sides. There are three pairs of legs. Larvae also use the tip of the abdomen for holding onto the substrate on which they are walking. As the larva grows, it moults (changes skin). There are four larval instars (stages). When the fourth larval instar is fully grown, it attaches itself to a sheltered place on a plant and moults into a pupa. The pupa background colour varies from pale to mid brown. The black spots and patches are more sharply defined on the pale pupae. The moulted larval skin remains at the base of the pupa. Adults hatch from pupae and mate. The length of time of each life stage depends on temperature, being shorter at higher temperatures.

Annual cycle

The ladybird probably overwinters (May-September) as adults. New season eggs are laid in spring. There are at least three generations per year in Auckland.

Walking and flying

Both adult and larval stages of this ladybird have three pairs of legs that can be used for walking. Larvae also use the tip of the abdomen for holding onto the substrate. Adults have wings and can fly.

Feeding

The adult and larval ladybirds eat aphids and possibly other small insects. The jaws are the primarily structures used for holding and chewing the prey, and in this species of ladybird the front legs of larvae are also used for holding food.

Larva, pupa and adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae Creator: AH Nicholason. © Drawings published in New Zealand Entomologist 1971, volume 5 (1): 79-81, Figure 1. [Image: 2ALL]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), about 5 mm long. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2862]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), note the different pattern of the black pattern on the elytra. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AW0]

Underside of adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKX]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALE]

Two adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALF]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) folding up its hind wings Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALD]

Eggs of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL7]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), early instar with moulted skin. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKZ]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), early instar from above. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL6]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), early instar from above. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALH]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and moulted larval skin. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALI]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from above. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKS]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from below. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKR]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from the side showing the anal sucker on the leaf stalk. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL0]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), late instar in an aphid colony. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL2]

Two pupae of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from the top (right) and side. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKT]

Pupae of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from the underside with the moulted larvae skin at the base of the abdomen (right). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKU]

Pupae of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKV]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 2KJ3]

In New Zealand adult variable ladybirds are easily recognised by their circular shape and black cross like pattern on the orange-red elytra (wing covers). In Australia the pattern of black on the elytra is variable, hence the common name and many synonyms.

The larvae can also be recognised by the pale yellow and white pattern on the darker body. Two features of all larvae are lateral white spots on the first abdominal segment and white on the side and top of the fourth abdominal segment. The pupae are variable, but distinctive. They can be pale yellow brown with black spots or a more uniform darker brown.

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), about 5 mm long. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2862]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALG]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Nicholas A. Martin. [Image: 2KJ3]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), early instar with moulted skin. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKZ]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL1]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALJ]

Underside of larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2ALK]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in an aphid colony. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL5]

Two pupae of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), showing the variable background colour. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL9]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), note the different pattern of the black pattern on the elytra. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AW6]

Adult variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), note the different pattern of the black pattern on the elytra. Creator: Nicholas A. Martin. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AW6]

No natural enemies of the variable ladybird are known in New Zealand. They are probably preyed upon by birds, spiders and predatory insects.

Adults have been found in late summer in association with Pittosporum psyllid, Trioza vitreoradiata (Maskell, 1879) (Hemiptera: Triozidae). They may have been feeding on the honeydew.

Both adults and larvae feed on aphids. They are associated with aphids on trees and shrubs. The jaws are the primarily structures used for holding and chewing the prey, and in this species of ladybird the front legs of larvae are also used for holding food.

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), feeding on aphids. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKN]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), feeding on aphids. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKP]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), feeding on aphids. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AKQ]

Larva of variable ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in an aphid colony. Creator: Tim Holmes. © Plant & Food Research. [Image: 2AL3]

Biological control of pests

In gardens and parks this ladybird contributes to the control of aphids on trees and shrubs. For example, it can be seen in colonies of the yellow aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on swan plants.

If pesticides are needed to control other pests, it is advisable to use chemicals that will have minimal harmful effects on the ladybirds or to use them at a time when the ladybirds are not present.

Diverse habits of 'ladybirds'

Not all ladybirds eat insects; some feed on mites. Other species eat plant leaves and are pests especially in some tropical countries, whereas other ladybirds feed on fungi. One of these, Illeis galbula (Mulsant, 1850), from Australia, feeds on powdery mildew fungi. In New Zealand it is common on pumpkins and other cucurbits, plants that are commonly infected by powdery mildews. A plant feeding ladybird, hadda beetle (Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius, 1775)) recently established in Auckland feeds on plants in the Solanaceae (potato family).

Nicholson AH 1971. A new coccinellid (Coleoptera) record for New Zealand. New Zealand Entomologist 5(1): 79-81.

Slipinski A, Hastings A, Boyd B 2007. Ladybirds of Australia. Retrieved April 2011. http://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/ladybirds.htm

Alan Flynn for information about the ladybird.

The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant & Food Research) for permission to use photographs.

1 November 2018. NA Martin. Changed symbol used for apostrophes.

1 August 2017, NA Martin. Added new photo of adult. Prey table updated.