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Species
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas 1773)
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Harmonia axyridis is holometabolous, progressing from egg through four larval instars, to pupa and then adult. The mean duration of each immature stage is as follows: egg - 2.8 days, first instar - 2.5 days, second instar - 1.5 days, third instar - 1.8 days, fourth instar - 4.4 days, pupa - 4.5 days. The diet of the beetle is also known to have an effect on larval development and adult weight, as is temperature. Harmonia axyridis is generally considered bivoltine in much of the world, although up to four or five generations per year have been observed. Adults diapause over winter and start laying eggs in early spring, whenever average temperatures begin to reach 12°C.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; diapause
- El-Sebaey, I., A. El-Gantiry. 1999. Biological aspects and description of different stages of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 50: 87-97.
- Kindlmann, P., H. Yasuda, S. Sato, K. Shinya. 2000. Key life stages of two predatory ladybird species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). European Journal of Entomology, 97: 495-499.
- LaMana, M., J. Miller. 1998. Temperature-dependent development in an Oregon population of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Environmental Entomology, 27: 1001-1005.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Harmonia_axyridis/ |
In its native range, Harmonia axyridis generally has two generations per year, but in some places five generations have been observed. Adults tend to live 30 to 90 days, contingent on temperature, although some have lived over three years. Whichever generation receives cues to diapause will generally live through winter, with reproduction then occurring in spring.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 3 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 30 to 90 days.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Harmonia_axyridis/ |
Harmonia axyridis secretes pheromones to attract mates and at close distances may use sight. Reproduction is sexual, with internal fertilization of the ova. Studies show that many females are selective of male mates, often deciding on their mates based on the color of male elytra. This seems to be a selective preference, as certain morphs tend to evade predation more effectively. Even so, the species is generally polgynandrous, with individuals ultimately mating many times with many different individuals. After mating, males do not exhibit any apparent defense mechanisms to ensure the eggs are fertilized.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Females of Harmonia axyridis will produce many eggs per season, averaging an approximate rate of 25 eggs per day. Individuals tend to lay egg clusters, with numbers ranging between 20 and 30 eggs per cluster. This species will breed continuously during its lifetime. Breeding is contingent on temperature, with lower temperatures increasing pre-mating and pre-oviposition periods. Females may lay unfertilized eggs along with the fertilized eggs, which are used by larvae as food sources in conditions where aphids and scale insects are scarce.
Breeding interval: Individuals will breed often and continuously over the duration of adulthood.
Breeding season: Harmonia axyridis will start to breed as soon as temperatures increase beyond approximately 12°C (50°F).
Range eggs per season: 1642 to 3819.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
There is virtually no parental investment in this species aside from females depositing nutrients in eggs. Additionally, females may lay unfertilized eggs along with the fertilized eggs, ensuring a food source for the larvae upon hatching. Otherwise, larval individuals are independent, surviving on their own after hatching.
Parental Investment: pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)
- Hodek, I. 1996. Ecology of Coccinellidae. New York, NY: Dordecht, Kluwever Academic.
- El-Sebaey, I., A. El-Gantiry. 1999. Biological aspects and description of different stages of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 50: 87-97.
- Hodek, I., P. Ceryngier. 2000. Sexual activity in Coccinellidae (Coleoptera): a review. European Journal of Entomology, 97: 449-456.
- Koch, R. 2003. The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis: a review of its biology, uses in biological control, and non-target impacts. Journal of Insect Science, 32(3): 1-16.
- LaMana, M., J. Miller. 1998. Temperature-dependent development in an Oregon population of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Environmental Entomology, 27: 1001-1005.
- Osawa, N. 1993. Population field studies of the aphidophagous ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): life tables and key factor analysis. Researches on Population Ecology, 35: 335-348.
- Perry, J., B. Roitberg. 2005. Ladybird mothers mitigate offspring starvation risk by laying trophic eggs. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 58(6): 578-586.
- Stathas, G., P. Eliopoulos, D. Kontodimas, J. Giannopapas. 2001. Parameters of reproductive activity in females of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). European Journal of Entomology, 98: 547-549.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Harmonia_axyridis/ |
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There are 18 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.
Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.
See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 231
Specimens with Barcodes: 319
Species With Barcodes: 1
Harmonia axyridis has no special conservation status.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Harmonia_axyridis/ |
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Harmonia+axyridis |
Harmonia axyridis, the Asian ladybird beetle, is a recognizable coccinellid beetle with red/orange or black wing elytra sporting 0 to 22 spots. Three color forms are especially common: red or orange with black spots (known as form succinea); black with four red spots (form spectabilis); and black with two red spots (form conspicua), although many other variants are also described. As well as feeding on many aphid and scale species, Harmonia axyridis eats a large variety of beetle and Lepidoptera species, and will also eat flower nectar and pollen. The Asian ladybird beetle is native to eastern Asia, but has been introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known and spreading in those regions. The wide geographical spread of this insect is cause for concern in some places, as it is a threat to native species and biodiversity, can damage crops (especially grapes) and migrates into houses in the fall, becoming a household pest. Harmonia axyridis beetles often aggregate in large numbers, and use pheromones to communicate and attract more beetles. These aggregation pheromones have been analyzed and synthesized to develop traps for control and monitoring of the ladybird.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Text modified from Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmonia_axyridis&oldid=460968069 |
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Harmonia+axyridis |
Harmonia axyridis, the Asian lady beetle, is native to the Oriental region, found in China, ranging to the far south (Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces), Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and parts of the Palearctic region, from northern Kazakhstan, and eastern Russia west to the Altai Mountains and north to Siberia. It has been introduced to at least four other continents. Its range covers the majority of North America; it is found in Mexico, across the United States (excluding Alaska and Wyoming) and much of southern Canada. This species has been found widely across South America, excluding Amazonian areas. Its habitat ranges across southern and western Europe into Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania, and recently was found in Tunisia, Egypt, and South Africa.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); ethiopian (Introduced ); neotropical (Introduced )
- Brown, P., C. Thomas, E. Lombaert, D. Estoup, A. Jefferies, L. Lawson Handley. 2011. The global spread of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): distribution, dispersal and routes of invasion. Biocontrol, 56(4): 623-641.
- Osawa, N. 2000. Population field studies on the aphidophagous ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): resource tracking and population characteristics. Population Ecology, 42(2): 115-127.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Harmonia_axyridis/ |