Adalia decempunctata

Ten -spot ladybird ( Adalia decempunctata )

The ten- spot ladybird ( Adalia decempunctata ) is a beetle of the family of ladybirds ( Coccinellidae ).

Description

The beetles are about 3.5 to 5 millimeters long. They have a very variable coloration, in which basically distinguish three forms. In the light shape sitting on the pronotum five to seven black spots, on the red-orange elytra are several black spots, also the side of the scutellum ( scutellum ) may rallied stains occur. In the dark shape that is predominantly colored black or brown, can be seen on the wing covers an oblique orange spot behind the shoulder and sometimes recognize other at the rear of the wing covers. The neck plate has on the sides and front a bright rim. In the mixed form of the elytra are colored black or brown and have five orange to red spots. Sometimes the beetles have no spots. They are then recognized only by their bright pronotum with five black dots. Their antennae and legs are yellow-brown.

Way of life

Overwintering takes place as Imago in the ground litter.

Occurrence

The beetles come in all of Europe, except for the far north and in Asia. They sit mainly on deciduous trees and meadows and are almost everywhere very common. They will take place from April to October.

Food

Like most ladybug species feed on the beetles and larvae of the ten -spot ladybird aphid.