California Lady Beetle
( Coccinella californica )
2016-0514-01020119-COL00471-Coccinella_californica[1046h57s,F,A,plant-leaf]{ACotter}-G.jpg
PHOTO COMMENT
IDENTIFICATION
Identification:Coccinella californica
(Mannerheim ,1843 )
Common Name:California Lady Beetle
Life Stage:(A) adult
PHYLOGENY
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Superorder:Holometabola
Order:Coleoptera
Suborder:Polyphaga
Family:Coccinellidae
Subfamily:Coccinellinae
Genus:Coccinella
Taxon Code:COL00471
ITIS/TSN:186967
LOCATION DETAILS
Location Name
Cerrito Creek, Cerrito Creek, Albany
County:Alameda County
ECI Site#:CA01020119
RECOGNITION
Description
This Lady Beetle is much more convex than the other local species. It is red or orange and has no spots. However, where the wings meet is dark and this dark area may expand into a small diamond-shaped patch. The suture, where the wings meet, down the middle of the back is black and can be easily seen. The pronotum is black with a white patch on each side. The head is black with two small white spots between the eyes. The two distinct, unconnected white blotches between the eyes on either side of the thorax and the lack of other spots distinguish it from the similarly convex Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (C. septempunctata)
Similar Taxa
The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (C. septempunctata) is similar in size and color; and is also strongly convex. The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle (C. novemnotata) has non-spotted morphs. However, in C. novemnotata the pronotal anterior margin bears a thin white line that connects its lateral white spots; and the white head spots are fused.
BIOLOGY
Range
Range hugs the west coast.
CREDITS
Photographer
Adrian Cotter
Insect Sciences Museum of California
References
Species Coccinella californica - California Lady Beetle. (http://bugguide.net/node/view/65466). Accessed March 12, 2016. .
ITIS.

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