Hippodamia notata

Hippodamia notata is a species of ladybird belonging to the family Coccinellidae.^[1]

Hippodamia notata
Adult of Hippodamia notata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Coccinellidae
Genus:	Hippodamia
Species:	H. notata
Binomial name
Hippodamia notata (Laicharting, 1781)
Synonyms
Ceratomegilla notata (Laicharting, 1781) Coccinella notata Laicharting, 1781 Semiadalia notata (Laicharting, 1781)

Varieties

• Hippodamia notata var. c-nigrum Della Beffa
• Hippodamia notata var. elongata Weise
• Hippodamia notata var. quinquesignata Friv.

Description

Hippodamia notata can reach a length of 4.5–5.5 millimetres (0.18–0.22 in).^[2] Adults have domed backs, mainly oval, with short legs and antennae. Pronotum is predominantly black, with white markings on the front edge. This species exhibits a remarkable variability of elytral color patterns. Elytra may be yellow-orange to red and wear large black spots. The legs are black, partially brown, the antennae are also brown. The larvae are slightly flattened and covered with miniature spines.

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic ecozone and in the Near East.^[3] It mainly inhabits forest edges and clearings.

Biology

Like most ladybugs, this species feeds on the larvae and adults of aphids.

Gallery

• 
  Larva
• 
  Orange variant
• 
  Red variant
• 
  Yellow variant

Bibliography

• Georg Möller, Reiner Grube, Ekkehard Wachmann: Der Fauna Käferführer I - Käfer im und am Wald Fauna-Verlag, Nottuln 2006, ISBN 3-935980-25-6.