Hippodamia variegata

Variable Flat Ladybug ( Hippodamia variegata )

The variable flat - Ladybug ( Hippodamia variegata ) is a beetle of the family of Ladybug ( Coccinellidae ).

Description

The beetles are about three to 5.5 millimeters in size and have a slightly elongated body, which is only slightly arched. The red to reddish- orange elytra a black, white, flanked on either side spot on the scutellum ( scutellum ) and performed either on the wing covers three black spots in the back area, or per six black spots. The pronotum is yellow and has a crown-shaped, black markings. The head also has a dominating yellow and black cross-belt to the base. The body bottom is black, the legs are dark except for the yellow front legs.

Occurrence

The bugs are spread throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia, but they are missing in the Far North. They live in fields, meadows, forest edges and Spülsäumen the North and Baltic Seas.

Way of life

The adults overwinter forest edges between moss.

Food

Like most ladybug species feed on the beetles and larvae of the flat variables Ladybug of shield and aphids.