Exochomus quadripustulatus

Exochomus quadripustulatus, commonly known as the pine ladybird or pine lady beetle, is a species of beetle of the family Coccinellidae.^[1][2][3]

Exochomus quadripustulatus
Adult Exochomus quadripustulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Coccinellidae
Subfamily:	Chilocorinae
Tribe:	Chilocorini
Genus:	Exochomus
Species:	E. quadripustulatus
Binomial name
Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Coccinella quadripustulata Linnaeus, 1758 Brumus quadripustulatus Exochomus quadripustulatus var. bilunulatus Weise, 1879 Exochomus quadripustulatus var. koltzei Weise, 1879 Exochomus quadripustulatus var. reitteri Schneider, 1881 Exochomus quadripustulatus var. sexpustulatus Kraatz, 1873 Exochomus quadripustulatus var. vittatus Fuente, 1910 Coccinella lunulata Gmelin, 1790 Coccinella quadriverrucata Fabricius, 1792 Coccinella cassidoides Donovan, 1798 Coccinella distincta Brullé, 1832 Coccinella floralis Motschulsky, 1837 Coccinella iberica Motschulsky, 1837

Description

Exochomus quadripustulatus can reach a length of about 4-6 millimeters. It is almost circular, convex and shining, with a flange around the base. The color is quite variable and may change with age. Usually the elytra are black with two larger red comma-shaped spots and two smaller round red spots. The color of these spots can also be orange or yellow, but completely reddish brown specimens may occur.

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic, and in the Near East. It was first recorded in Ireland (County Armagh) in 2014.^[4] It was introduced to San Francisco between 1915 and 1930 to control the hemlock woolly adelgid, and has since spread across the west coast of North America from California to British Columbia. It is also present in Massachusetts.^[1][2]

This fairly common ladybug can be found from April to October especially on conifers and in areas with deciduous trees.

Ecology and biological control

The pine ladybird in both adult and larval stages preys on aphids and scale insects, especially Diaspidiotus perniciosus. Adults overwinter.

E. quadripustulatus has strong potential as a biological control in Italy by being a candidate predator of Toumeyella parvicornis, an alien pest that infests stone pines; it has been observed to be more attracted to conspecific and heterospecific ladybugs than Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, another candidate predator, and responds to prey more quickly.^[5]

Gallery

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  Larva
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  Pupa
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  Newly emerged adult
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  Adult, reddish form
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