Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Cucujoidea
- Coccinellidae
- Henosepilachna
- Henosepilachna argus
Images
Description
Length: 5 - 7mm. Background colour: orange. Pattern colour: black spots. Number of spots: 11. Spot fusions: rare. Melanic (black) forms: no. Pronotum: orange. Leg colour: orange. Other features: elytra covered in short downy hairs.
Fourth-instar larva: pale yellow with dark tubercles, bearing tall black branching spines. Pupa: pale yellow with small black spots; partially covered by shed larval skin at base.
Biology
Habitats: In Britain the bryony ladybird is found in urban habitats, commonly gardens and carparks. However, in Surrey there are recent sightings from more natural habitats on chalk and sand.
Host plants: In Britain it feeds solely on white bryony but in other parts of Europe it has been noted feeding on melons.
Food: leaves of white bryony and other curcurbits.
Overwintering sites: Bryony ladybirds overwinter in low herbage.
Articles
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(2001), Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae) in Middlesex The Coleopterist 10(1):4
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(2000), Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae, Epilachninae), a phytophagous ladybird new to the U.K., breeding at Molesey, Surrey The Coleopterist 9(1):1