''Chilocorus cacti'', known generally as the cactus lady beetle or the twice-stabbed cactus lady beetle, is a species of

lady beetle Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from . They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Some entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they ...

in the family

Coccinellidae Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from . They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Some entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they ...

. It is native to the Caribbean region, North America, Central America, and South America. The adults and larvae feed on

scale insect Scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient grouping than the ...

s and attempts have been made to use it for

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

Description

The eggs of ''Chilocorus cacti'' are about long, oval and grey. The larvae are cylindrical and moult three times, the fourth instar larva being about long; the larvae are black, with a yellowish-brown girdle, and have large black spines on the dorsal surface. The pupae are diamond-shaped, about long, mottled black and brown, and also spiny. The adult is domed, up to long, a glossy black colour with two large reddish-brown spots on the elytra. This lady beetle is similar in appearance to ''

Chilocorus stigma ''Chilocorus stigma'', commonly known as the twice-stabbed ladybug, is a native resident of the United States and Canada but does not live west of the Sierra Nevada.. It also has been introduced to Hawaii. It is shiny black, and there is one red ...

'', but the ventral surface is brown whereas that of ''C. stigma'' is black.

Distribution and habitat

''Chilocorus cacti'' is native to the New World where its range includes the southern United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and the Caribbean region. It has become established in South Africa, Eswatini, Morocco and São Tomé and Príncipe, India and New Zealand. This lady beetle is often found on

prickly pear cacti ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...

(''

Opuntia ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', ''nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word f ...

''), and on various trees, especially coconut palms.

Ecology

Both adults and larvae of this lady beetle are predators, feeding on

s; the species consumed vary with location but include ''

Aonidiella aurantii ''Aonidiella aurantii'' or red scale is an armored scale insect and a major pest of citrus. It is thought to be a native of South China but has been widely dispersed by the agency of man through the movement of infected plant material. In the ...

'', ''

Aspidiotus destructor ''Aspidiotus destructor'', the coconut scale, is a species of armoured scale insect in the family Diaspididae, found in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It is a serious pest of coconut and banana, and attacks a range of other ...

'', '' Carulaspis minima'', ''

Coccus viridis ''Coccus viridis'' is a soft scale insect in the family Coccidae with a wide host range. It is commonly known as green scale or sometimes coffee green scale because it is a major pest of coffee crops throughout the world. Description The adult ...

'', ''

Melanaspis glomerata ''Melanaspis glomerata'', the sugarcane scale or black scale, is a species of armoured scale insect in the family Diaspididae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent where it is a serious pest of sugarcane. Description When first hatched, the ...

'', ''

Parlatoria blanchardi ''Parlatoria blanchardi'', the date palm scale, is a species of armored scale insect in the family Diaspididae. It is a widespread and serious pest of palms, both date palms and ornamental species. Description The adult female test is an elonga ...

'', ''

Pseudaulacaspis pentagona ''Pseudaulacaspis pentagona'', the white peach scale or mulberry scale, is a species of armoured scale insect in the family Diaspididae. This scale infests over 100 different genera of plants including many fruit trees and ornamentals. Descript ...

'', '' Selenaspidus articulatus'', '' Hemiberlesia lataniae'' and '' Aulacaspis yasumatsui'', many of which are major pests of citrus and other crops. Besides scale insects, it consumes other pests, such as the psyllid '' Diaphorina citri'' on citrus. The eggs are laid close to a suitable prey species and hatch in about ten days. The larvae feed for about 17 days before pupating, and the adults emerge about 13 days later. In the United States the insects have no natural enemies, perhaps being avoided by birds and lizards because of an offensive odour. The black and red colouring indicates to potential predators that they are distasteful. This lady beetle has been used with mixed success in attempts at

in several countries.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2303269 Coccinellidae Beetles of South America Beetles of Central America Beetles of North America Articles created by Qbugbot Beetles described in 1767 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Description

Distribution and habitat

Ecology

References

Further reading

External links