Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

Fourteen spot ladybird ( Propylea quatuordecimpunctata )

The fourteen- spot ladybird or checkerboard ladybug ( Propylea quatuordecimpunctata ) is a beetle of the family of Ladybug ( Coccinellidae ). He is one of the most common ladybird species in Central Europe.

Features

The beetles are 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long and have an uncommon variety of shapes. There are well over 100 different color and pattern variations. Some differ to such an extent that they were considered initially as distinct species. The beetles are pale to bright yellow and have seven black, almost rectangular spots on the wing covers. This can also extend so far as to grow together, however, that the yellow almost completely disappears and the animal looks as if it had yellow dots. The elytra seam is usually solid black. The pronotum bears four to eight, mostly grown together, black points and is otherwise mostly light yellow edges only. Their antennae and legs are yellow-brown.

Occurrence

One finds this kind in all of Europe from the southern part up to the arctic circle but also in Asia. They live from lower elevations to the subalpine zone and are found on deciduous trees and herbaceous plants almost everywhere in meadows and fields, forests, gardens and parks.

Reproduction

A female lays about 400 eggs. This is necessary because there is often a high mortality among the larvae. These can develop only under ideal conditions ( ideal weather conditions, enough food, ...). The beetles overwinter twice, sometimes in attics, in the great outdoors in the ground litter.

Food

These animals feed like most ladybug aphid, which is why they are regarded as very useful. A larva can eat up to 20, a beetle even 55 aphids per day.

Sideview

Beetles during feeding aphid

Pairing

Light color variation